1903] STORES TRANSPORTED 125 



amply provided by the region in which we lived, for life could 

 have been maintained on the seals alone. But although 

 existence may be supported in this simple fashion, it is scarcely 

 to be supposed that civilised beings would willingly subject 

 themselves to such limitations, and therefore it is reasonable 

 to include as necessaries such articles as not only make 

 existence possible, but life tolerable. 



From this broader point of view we were well equipped in 

 the ' Discovery,' and experience had taught us that we could 

 continue to live with comparative comfort on very modest 

 requirements. We had an ample stock of flour — enough to 

 have lasted us for at least three years. To this might be 

 added a large store of biscuit, which had been rarely used 

 except on our sledge journeys. We were well provided with 

 sugar, butter, pea-flour, tea, chocolate, jam, and marmalade, 

 and had a moderate supply of lard, bottled fruits, pickles, 

 cheese, and milk. With our holds thus stored we should have 

 had little cause for anxiety for at least two or three years to 

 come, but with the relief ship so well stocked it can be 

 imagined that we were not long in considering how we might 

 still further increase our comfort and provide for a greater 

 variety in our fare. Our vegetables, both tinned and dried, 

 had been a distinct failure, and it was in this, therefore, that 

 we made our first call on the resources of the ' Morning.' But 

 besides this we had run very short of sauces, herbs, tinned 

 soups, and articles of this nature, which were particularly 

 desirable for cooking and seasoning our dishes of seal-meat. 

 Our cheese, too, was not very satisfactory, whereas that brought 

 by the ' Morning ' from New Zealand was in excellent condi- 

 tion ; and although our tinned butter was very good, we were 

 not long in discovering that the fresh New Zealand butter 

 brought by the ' Morning ' was a great deal better. 



The sledge loads which were dragged across the ice with 

 so much hard labour during this month of February went, 

 therefore, as far as food was concerned, to supplying minor 

 deficiencies and to ensuring for us in the second winter a 

 greater degree of comfort than we had enjoyed in the first ; 



