INTRODUCTION xlix 
without previous knowledge of the history of the expedi- 
tion to give here a brief summary of the course of events. 
Those who are familiar already with these facts can easily 
skip a page or two. 
‘Two parties were sent out during the first autumn: the 
one under Scott to lay a large depdt on the Barrier for the 
Polar Journey, and this is called the Depot Journey ; the 
other to carry out geological work among the Western 
Mountains, so called because they form the western side 
of McMurdo Sound: this is called the First Geological 
Journey, and another similar journey during the following 
summer is called the Second Geological Journey. 
Both parties joined up at the old Discovery Hut at Hut 
Point in March 1911, and here waited for the sea to freeze 
a passage northwards to Cape Evans. Meanwhile the men 
left at Cape Evans were continuing the complex scientific 
work of the station. All the members of the Main Party 
were not gathered together at Cape Evans for the winter 
until May 12. During the latter half of the winter a jour- 
ney was made by three men led by Wilson to Cape Crozier 
to investigate the embryology of the Emperor penguin: 
this is called the Winter Journey. 
The journey to the South Pole absorbed the energies of 
most of the sledging members during the following sum- 
mer of 1911-12. The motor party turned back on the 
Barrier ; the dog party at the bottom of the Beardmore 
Glacier. From this point twelve men went forward. Four 
of these men under Atkinson returned from the top of the 
glacier in latitude 85° 3’ S.: they are known as the First 
Return Party. A fortnight later in latitude 87° 32’ S. three 
more men returned under Lieutenant Evans: these are 
the Second Return Party. Five men went forward, Scott, 
Wilson, Bowers, Oates and Seaman Evans. They reached 
the Pole on January 17 to find that Amundsen had reached 
it thirty-four days earlier. They returned 721 statute miles 
and perished 177 miles from their winter quarters. 
The supporting parties got back safely, but Lieutenant 
Evans was very seriously ill with scurvy. The food neces- 
sary for the return of the Polar Party from One Ton Camp 
