214 



PLATE CVIIL ON THE GREAT ICE BARRIER. 



FIG. 1 (Map A). From a photograph by E. H. SHACKLETON (Sh. 193, ^-plate), Jan. 

 24, 1903 ; taken on the surface of the Great Ice Barrier. 



FIG. 2 (Map A). From a photograph taken by E. H. SHACKLETON (Sh. 181, ^-plate), 

 Dec. 17, 1902 ; off Cape Selborne, on the Great Ice Barrier. 



Both pictures, taken on the Southern Sledge Journey, represent difficulties of 

 surface. Fig. 1 shows a very soft deep deposit of fog-crystals, beautiful to look at 

 individually as dainty hexagonal feathery stars, but most trying to deal with when 

 they clog the sledge-runners and allow the feet to sink deeply at every step. These 

 crystals fall in the foggy small hours of the morning, when the sun is low in the 

 south, and for many days in succession the accumulation continues to deepen, 

 making it impossible to travel fast. 



In Fig. 2 is shown a crevasse off Cape Selborne, in S. lat. 80 30', which we passed 

 with dogs and sledges on a " blind " white sunless day, when neither light nor shade 

 can be distinguished at one's feet. Without seeing it or suspecting it, we had crossed 

 and camped within a few yards of this crevasse, and only on the following morning 

 saw how narrowly our sledge tracks had escaped it. Away from the proximity of 

 land such faults are overbridged, and though the scars are visible, they are safe. 



See Scott, Voyage of the 'Discovery,' vol. ii., p. 50. 



