1902] WEATHER CONDITIONS 235 



adopting this form I shall suppress as far as possible the 

 repetition of entries which might weary the reader. 



It can be readily understood, however, that what is usually 

 conceded to be an easily exhausted conversational topic, the 

 weather, was to us at this time a matter of extraordinary 

 importance. In this respect it has rarely, if ever, been the lot 

 of a polar expedition to be so unfortunately circumstanced as 

 we were, and consequently we had much that was novel in our 

 situation, even when the experiences of former expeditions are 

 considered. Almost without exception the North Polar winter 

 has been recorded as a period of quiescence, when, although 

 the thermometer has fallen to low limits, the atmosphere has 

 remained comparatively undisturbed ; but with us calm 

 weather was the exception, and we eagerly looked to take full 

 advantage of such breaks as occurred in the monotonous round 

 of windy days. 



1 April 30. — . . . Wind still blowing from the old quarter, 

 with temperature fallen to — 27 .' 



''May 2. — ... A moderate breeze in the forenoon 

 developed into a southerly gale during the afternoon, and in 

 the evening it was blowing in furious squalls. Word was 

 brought down that the windmill was straining badly, although 

 it was feathered to the storm — a precaution which the engine- 

 room staff have been careful to take in good time since the 

 last breakdown ; at about 8 p.m. it snapped off short, and now 

 lies a wreck on the forecastle. So this is the last of our electric 

 light, though for some time it has seemed hopeless to expect 

 the system to work satisfactorily. It is some comfort to know 

 that this last breakdown could not have been prevented ; it 

 reveals a radical weakness in the windmill itself, and entirely 

 supports an opinion expressed to the expert who fitted it. 



' Outside the snowdrift is so thick that one cannot see a 

 yard in front of one's face ; it is whirling and eddying about 

 the ship in such a manner that were one to lose touch of a 

 guide-rope he would be immediately lost. No one has been 

 outside for more than a few minutes, except the observers, and 

 to-night even they are not going beyond the ship. Five 



