INTRODUCTION XXXVI1 
ber 21 that Wilson disclosed to Scott that Shackleton 
had signs of scurvy which had been present for some time. 
On December 30, in latitude 82° 16’ S., they decided to 
return. By the middle of January the scurvy signs were 
largely increased and Shackleton was seriously ill and spit- 
ting blood. His condition became more and more alarm- 
ing, and he collapsed on January 18, but revived after- 
wards. Sometimes walking by the sledge, sometimes being 
carried upon it, Shackleton survived: Scott and Wilson 
saved his life. The three men reached the ship on 
February 3, after covering 960 statute miles in 93 days. 
Scott and Wilson were both extremely exhausted and 
seriously affected by scurvy. It was a fine journey, the 
geographical results of which comprised the survey of some 
three hundred miles of new coast-line, and a further know- 
ledge of the Barrier upon which they travelled. 
While Scott was away southwards an organized attempt 
was made to discover the nature of the mountains and 
glaciers which lay across the Sound to the west. This party 
actually reached the plateau which lay beyond, and attained 
a height of 8900 feet, when ‘“‘as far as they could see in 
every direction to the westward of them there extended a 
level plateau, to the south and north could be seen isolated 
nunataks, and behind them showed the high mountains 
which they had passed”: a practicable road to the west 
had been found. 
I need note no more than these two most important of 
the many journeys carried out this season: nor 1s it neces- 
sary for me to give any account of the continuous and 
fertile scientific work which was accomplished in this 
virgin land. In the meantime a relief ship, the Morning, 
had arrived. It was intended that the Discovery should 
return this year as soon as the sea-ice in which she was 
imprisoned should break up and set her free. As February 
passed, however, it became increasingly plain that the ice 
conditions were altogether different from those of the pre- 
vious year. On the 8th the Morning was still separated 
from the Discovery by eight miles of fast ice. March 2 
was fully late for a low-powered ship to remain in the 
