1 9 o 3 ] INTERESTING PROBLEMS 107 



which led over the foothill plateau and down the steep slopes 

 of Descent Pass still appeared as a serious impediment in the 

 way of speedy approach to the ice-cap. It remained to be 

 seen whether some easier route might not be found to the base 

 of Cathedral Rocks, and, in spite of Armitage's observations, I 

 could not help thinking that there must be some way by which 

 sledges could be dragged from the New Harbour over the 

 foot of the Ferrar Glacier. 



It was evident that this party had reached the inland ice- 

 cap and could claim to be the first to set foot on the interior of 

 Victoria Land ; but it was clear, too, that they had been forced 

 to terminate their advance at an extremely interesting point, 

 and to return without being able to supply very definite in- 

 formation with regard to the ice-cap. As I have already 

 pointed out, the view of the sledge- traveller on a plain is 

 limited to an horizon of three or four miles ; beyond this he 

 cannot say definitely what occurs. This party appeared to 

 have been on a lofty plateau, but the very short advance they 

 had been able to make over it could not give a clear indication 

 of what might lie to the westward ; the nature of the interior of 

 this great country was therefore still wrapped in mystery. 



The photographs, the rock specimens, and the enthusiastic 

 descriptions of the rugged cliffs which bordered the glacier 

 valley showed that here lay the most promising field for 

 geological investigations that we could possibly hope to find, 

 and that at all hazards our geologist must be given the chance 

 of exploring it. In the original programme it had been im- 

 possible to guess in what direction this important officer should 

 direct his footsteps, and it had been decided that his ends 

 would best be served by making short journeys in various 

 directions. It was now evident that this deep glacier valley 

 cutting a section through the mountain ranges was incom- 

 parably more interesting than any other region known to us, 

 and what could be learnt of it from the returned travellers only 

 went to show more clearly the extreme importance of a second 

 visit. But perhaps the most promising circumstance of all 

 that pointed to the interest of this region was that amongst the 



