

CHAPTER XI 



the polar journey (continued) 



People, perhaps, still exist who believe that it is of no importance to 

 explore the unknown polar regions. This, of course, shows ignorance. It 

 is hardly necessary to mention here of what scientific importance it is that 

 these regions should be thoroughly explored. The history of the human 

 race is a continual struggle from darkness towards light. It is, therefore, 

 to no purpose to discuss the use of knowledge ; man wants to know, and 

 when he ceases to do so, he is no longer man. — Nansen. 



III. The Plateau from Mount Darwin to 

 Lat. 87 32' S. 



For the first week on the plateau Bowers wrote a full 

 diary, which I give below. After December 28 there 

 are little more than fragmentary notes until January 19, 

 the day the party started to return from the Pole. From 

 then until January 25, he wrote fully ; nothing after 

 that until January 29, followed by more fragments 

 to "February 3rd (I suppose)." That is the last entry he 

 made. 



But this is not surprising, even in a man of Bowers' 

 energy. The time a man can give to writing under such 

 conditions is limited, and Bowers had a great deal of it to 

 do before he could think of a diary — the meteorological 

 log ; sights for position as well as rating sights for time ; 

 and all the routine work of weights, provisions and depots. 



368 



