2 Recent Antarctic Exploration 



when, with great difficulty, she forced her way out and re- 

 turned home. 



The other expedition was that of Mr Borchgrevink, a 

 Norwegian, who had already visited the antarctic seas on a 

 whaling expedition. He induced Sir George Newnes to fit 

 out a scientific expedition on board a single ship, which 

 landed him and his companions on Cape Adare in the north- 

 east part of Victoria Land. For the first time a winter was 

 spent on the antarctic continent ; and the conditions obtaining 

 on the land were ascertained, the meteorological record being 

 of particular interest. This expedition was planned and 

 carried out in a business-like way. A Norwegian whaler 

 was purchased, fitted, and loaded with huts and everything 

 required by a party landing on a desert and inhospitable 

 coast and proposing to spend the winter there. Notwith- 

 standing the exposed character of the coast where a landing 

 was effected, and the frequent storms which impeded the 

 work, everything had been put on shore, the party installed 

 in their new dwelling, and the ship had started on her return 

 journey in the space of a fortnight. At almost the same date 

 of the next year she returned, took the party on board again, 

 and steamed south, visiting the sheltered inlet of Wood Bay 

 on the way to McMurdo Bay. She coasted the great barrier 

 from Cape Crozier, and not only reached the highest southern 

 latitude which had been reached until then by a ship, but she 

 was able to moor alongside the barrier at a place where it had 

 the height of a wharf or quay, and to land her party for a 

 day's excursion on the ice where they reached the farthest 

 south so far attained, viz. lat. 78 50' S. 



A month before Captain de Gerlache and Mr Borch- 

 grevink returned to Europe, the other two expeditions, to 

 which reference was made above, had set out. One of these 

 was on board the British ship "Discovery," Commander 

 R. F. Scott, R.N. ; the other on the German ship " Gauss," 

 under the direction of Professor Erich von Drygalski. Both 

 these ships were fitted with everything that ample funds could 

 provide. They left Europe in August 1901. It had been 

 arranged that the " Discovery " should explore the district to 



