1 64 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Oct. 



five miles to New Habour at a good round pace, and by work- 

 ing long hours succeeded in reaching the snow-cape on the 

 near side early on the 14th— a highly creditable performance 

 with such heavy loads. 



This snow-cape was in future to be known as 'Butter 

 Point.' It was here that on our return journey we could first 

 hope to obtain fresh seal-meat, and, in preparation for this 

 great event, a tin of butter was carried and left at this point for 

 each party. 



And here I fall back on my diary as may be required to 

 continue the thread of my tale. 



1 October 14. — Had to camp early to-night, as Dailey and 

 Williamson are a bit seedy, probably a little overcome with the 

 march. At supper the third member of this unlucky unit, 

 Plumley, cut off the top of his thumb in trying to chop up 

 frozen pemmican. He is quite cheerful about it, and has been 

 showing the frozen detached piece of thumb to everyone else 

 as an interesting curio. For the present we are comparatively 

 comfortable; the temperature has not been below — 20 , and 

 I do not expect anything lower till we get to the upper reaches 

 of the glacier.' 



On the 15 th we struck the glacier snout well on its north 

 side, and found, as I had guessed, an easy road ; from there on 

 to the first incline of the glacier we crossed only mild undula- 

 tions and had no difficulties with our sledges. It was extra- 

 ordinary, after we had discovered and travelled over this easy 

 route, to remember what a bogey it had been to us for more 

 than twelve months. 



On the 1 6th we reached our spring depot under the Cathe- 

 dral Rocks, and after picking it up and readjusting our loads, 

 proceeded a few miles higher to a spot where Armitage had 

 planted some sticks in the previous year to mark the move- 

 ment of the glacier. We camped in gloriously fine weather, 

 and I wrote : ' To-night it is difficult to imagine oneself in a 

 polar region. If one forgets for the moment that there is ice 

 under foot, which it is not difficult to do as it is very dark in 

 colour and there are many boulders close about us, one might 



