152 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Sept. 



object was to find a new road to the Ferrar Glacier, and on it 

 to place a depot ready for a greater effort over the ice-cap. I 

 pause a moment to recall to the reader the position of affairs 

 in this region. The Ferrar Glacier descends gradually to the 

 inlet, which we named New Harbour, but it will be remembered 

 that Mr. Armitage had reported most adversely on this inlet 

 as a route for sledges, and in conducting his own party had 

 led it across the high foothills. I had not been to this region, 

 but in the nature of things I could not help thinking that 

 some practicable route must exist up the New Harbour inlet, 

 and I knew that if it could be found our journey to the west 

 would be made far easier. It was in this direction, therefore, 

 that I set out with my party. 



Half-way across the strait we had the misfortune to en- 

 counter a blizzard, which delayed us in our tents and effectually 

 covered all our camping equipment with ice ; then the tem- 

 perature fell rapidly, and we knew that our discomfort for the 

 trip was ensured. Owing to the delay we did not reach the 

 New Harbour until the 13th, and it took us the whole of 

 the daylight hours of the 14th to struggle up the south side 

 of the inlet to the commencement of the disturbances caused 

 by the glacier. 



The night of the 14th was an anxious one, and I remem- 

 ber it well. On each side of us rose the great granite foothills. 

 The light had been poor in the afternoon march, and now 

 that the sun had sunk behind the mountains in a crimson 

 glow, we were left with only the barest twilight. We had been 

 forced to camp when we had suddenly found ourselves on a 

 broken surface, and all about us loomed up gigantic ice-blocks 

 and lofty morainic heaps. To-morrow was to decide whether 

 or not these obstructions could be tackled ; meanwhile the 

 temperature had fallen to — 49 , and in the frigid gloom our 

 prospects did not look hopeful. 



On the following day, however, with cheerful sunshine to 

 aid our efforts, we proceeded for some way up the bed of a 

 frozen stream, still on the south side of the glacier. On our 

 right was the glacier itself, distorted into a mass of wall faces 



