THE FIELD FOR SCIENTIFIC WORK 



It seemed much nearer than it really was, for in the Ant- 

 arctic the distances are most deceptive, curiously differ- 

 ent effects being produced by the variations of light and 

 the distortion of mirage. 



As time went on we felt more and more satisfied 

 with our location, for there was work of interest for 

 every one. The Professor and Priestley saw open before 

 them a new chapter of geological history of great in- 

 terest, for Cape Royds was a happier hunting-ground 

 for the geologist than was Hut Point. Hundreds of 

 erratic boulders lay scattered on the slopes of the adjacent 

 hills, and from these the geologists hoped to learn some- 

 thing of the past conditions of Ross Island. For Murray, 

 the lakes were a fruitful field for new research. The 

 gradually deepening bay was full of marine animal life, 

 the species varying with the depth, and here also an inex- 

 haustible treasure-ground stretched before the biologist. 

 Adams, the meteorologist, could not complain, for Mount 

 Erebus was in full view of the meterological station, 

 and this fortunate proximity to Erebus and its smoke- 

 cloud led, in a large measure, to important results in this 

 branch. For the physicist the structure of the ice, 

 varying on various lakes, the different salts in the earth, 

 and the magnetic conditions of the rocks claimed investi- 

 gation, though, indeed, the magnetic nature of the rocks 

 proved a disadvantage in carrying out magnetic obser- 

 vations, for the delicate instruments were often affected 

 by the local attraction. From every point of view I 

 must say that we were extremely fortunate in the winter 

 quarters to which we had been led by the state of the sea- 

 ice, for no other spot could have afforded more scope for 

 work and exercise. 



Before we had been ten days ashore the hut was 

 practically completed, though it was over a month before 



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