INTRODUCTION 



this purpose, then meteorological and oceanographical 

 observations and the collection of zoological and geological 

 specimens, and of course geographical exploration. Three 

 pieces of exploration were specified in the instructions, an 

 attempt to reach the land which Ross believed to exist 

 east of the Barrier, though he charted it as an appearance 

 only, a journey westward into the mountains of Victoria 

 Land, and a journey southward. An attempt to reach 

 the Pole was neither recommended nor forbidden. The 

 Royal Geographical Society has always deprecated 

 attempts to attain high latitudes north or south unless 

 as an incident in systematic scientific work. The Discovery 

 left Lyttelton on December 24, 1901, met the pack on 

 January 1, 1902, and got through it into Ross Sea in a 

 week in 174° East. Landings were made at Cape Adare, 

 at various points along the coast of Victoria Land, and 

 on January 22, at the base of Mount Terror, near Cape 

 Crozier. From this point the Great Barrier was coasted 

 to the east, close along its edge, and on the 29th in 165° 

 East the depth of water was found to be less than a 

 hundred fathoms, a strong indication of the approach to 

 land. The Barrier had receded about thirty miles since 

 Ross was in those seas, and there was much less pack-ice 

 than during his visit ; the date also was earlier and Scott 

 was able to penetrate almost to 150° West before being 

 stopped by heavy ice. The land was plainly seen, its 

 higher summits being 2000 to 3000 ft. above the 

 sea, and bare rocks projected from the snow covering of 

 the hills. Thus the first geographical problem set to the 

 expedition was promptly and satisfactorily solved. 

 Although no landing was made on King Edward VII 

 Land, the King's first godchild of discovery, as Victoria 

 Land had been the late Queen's, the Discovery was laid 

 alongside a low part of the Barrier in 164° West, and the 

 captive balloon was raised for a comprehensive view. 



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