THE DISCOVERY HUT 



five years' desertion, the building was in excellent pres- 

 ervation. A few relics of the last expedition were lying 

 about, including bags containing remnants of provisions 

 from various sledging-parties. Amongst these provisions 

 was an open tin of tea, and the following morning the 

 party made an excellent brew from the contents. It 

 speaks volumes for the dryness of the climate that the 

 tea should retain its flavour after exposure to the air 

 for five years. A sledging-tin of petroleum was also 

 used and was found to be in perfect condition. The 

 ice on the end of Hut Point was cracked and crevassed, 

 but in all other respects things seemed to be the same 

 as when the Discovery steamed away to the north in 

 February 1904. The cross put up in memory of Vince, 

 who lost his life close by in a blizzard, was still stand- 

 ing, and so were the magnetic huts. At 1 p.m. the fol- 

 lowing day the three sledgers set out for the ship, and 

 though they had the assistance of an extemporised sail, 

 rigged to take advantage of the southerly wind, they 

 found the travelling very heavy, and were heartily glad 

 to get on board the Nimrod again. 



In the morning we moved close in towards Inaccess- 

 ible Island, as the ice seemed to have broken out right 

 up to it, but on getting near we saw there was still a large 

 amount stretching between the ship and the island. 

 Soundings here gave us 298 fathoms, with a bottom of 

 volcanic pebbles. We tied up again to the ice, and 

 during the afternoon the shore-party filled the little tank 

 on top of the boiler-room grating with snow, and the 

 resulting water made the tea much more pleasant than 

 the water from the ship's tanks to which we had been 

 accustomed. 



About four o'clock we got under way and started 

 towards Cape Barne on the lookout for a suitable land- 

 ing-place. About two miles off the point, at 6 p.m., a 



93 



