386 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Sem. 



and stood at — 43 , but possibly this recorded a temperature 

 prior to the blizzard. Whilst it was blowing we could not 

 reach the thermometer, but judging by temperatures taken 

 elsewhere, and our own sensations, I do not think it could 

 have risen above — 30 throughout, which is most exceptional 

 with a strong wind. When we got up this morning the spirit 

 column stood below — 50 , and Royds, five miles to the north, 

 recorded — 53 . The effect of such a temperature on our wet 

 clothing may be imagined. I shall remember the condition 

 of my trousers for a long while ; they might have been cut out 

 of sheet iron. It was some time before I could walk with any 

 sort of ease, and even when we reached the ship I was con- 

 scious of carrying an armour plate behind me. 



'So here we all are, back again, having accomplished 

 nothing except the acquisition of wisdom. It will certainly be 

 a very long time before I go to sleep again in a tent which is 

 not properly secured. 



' Royds and his party weathered the gale five miles north 

 of us ; they had no trouble at all with their tent, thanks to 

 plenty of snow on the skirt. They have had a severe trip, but 

 are all pretty fit. It appears they came to very rough ground 

 to the north of Black Island, and advanced for some distance 

 by portage, but finding little improvement they turned back. 

 At one place a gust of wind swept one of their single sleeping- 

 bags away ; luckily, there was a three-man sleeping-bag, and 

 they managed to squeeze four people into that, but all four 

 agree that such a tight squeeze banished all chance of sleep. 

 Two days later they found the missing bag some four miles 

 from the spot at which it had been lost. Koettlitz thinks that 

 it will be quite possible to circumnavigate the Black Island in 

 spite of the rough ground, so I have given him permission 

 to try. 



' I hear that the late gale was very severely felt in the ship : 

 the temperature fell to — 32 , no work could be done outside 

 on Thursday, the stove pipes were bent, and heavy planks were 

 swept off the skid beams by the wind.' 



'September 23. — . . . We are preparing to be off again, 



