218 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Dec. 



found a buried treasure in the shape of some tit-bits of an 

 animal which they had killed. From Butter Point we turned 

 our course south to those curious moraine heaps which we had 

 called the ' Eskers,' and which I had not yet seen. We spent 

 half a day in rambling amongst these steep little hills, and in 

 trying to find skuas' eggs which were not hard set; but 

 fortune was against us in this last respect, and we found that 

 we were at least a week too late. 



On the afternoon of the 23rd we started to cross the strait 

 for the last time, and late on Christmas Eve we saw the masts 

 of the ' Discovery,' and were soon welcomed by the four 

 persons who alone remained on board. And so after all our 

 troubles and trials we spent our Christmas Day in the snug 

 security of our home quarters, and tasted once again those 

 delights of civilised existence to which we had so long been 

 strangers. 



And now, seated at my desk, I could quietly work out my 

 observations, and trace the track which we had made. I 

 found, to my relief, that my watch had kept an excellent rate, 

 as far as my observed positions could check it. This was a 

 matter of great importance, as the longitude of our position on 

 the great plain of the interior depended entirely on its accuracy. 

 This watch has since been given to me by its makers, and I 

 value it highly ; as I think few watches have done greater 

 service ; and here, for the benefit of future explorers, I must 

 again point out the importance of the manner in which a watch 

 is carried on such a journey. I shifted my watch-pocket 

 several times during my earlier experiences before I decided 

 on its best position, and throughout my travels I never failed 

 to treat my watch with the greatest care. The pocket was 

 eventually sewn to my inner vest, in such a position that my 

 harness could not touch it, and I never took the watch out of 

 this warm place unless it was necessary ; when taking sights I 

 held it in the palm of my hand, and as far as possible under 

 the cover of a mit. 



When I had worked out our various positions and calcu- 

 lated the distances we had travelled, I had before me an array 



