The S.W. middle current wind, so preva^ 

 lent to the north, had now cut out, and the 

 warmer south^seeking anti-'trade came down to 

 the plateau level, helping us onward. Some 

 miles ahead a fog'banfc hanging low upon the 

 land obscured the horizon. ^ On the morning 

 of the third day we felt a crisis was close at hand, 

 as the sky in front contrasted strongly with the 

 uniform ice^blink we were now leaving behind. 

 The temperatures perceptibly rose as we came 

 up to the fog-bank. The tiny particles of ice 

 floating in the air and producing the fog were 

 now so much more abundant that it was im- 

 possible for us to see more than about a hun- 

 dred yards ahead. The increased temperature 

 was due, evidently, to liberation of latent heat 

 set free by separation of the fog particles. 

 ^ Camp had been pitched and the ** hoosh '' 

 served, when the hungry Scotchman was in- 

 terrupted in his occupation of devouring any 

 remaining tit-bits by a shout from without. 

 Inquiring heads appeared from the tents, and 

 amongst the turmoil that ensued could be 

 heard cries of ''The Bottomless Pit T' 

 ** Gehenna I " A moment later our astonished 

 gaze was greedily devouring the situation. The 

 mist had temporarily rolled back, revealing a 

 steep slope commencing shortly in front of us. 



31 



