LIMIT OF ENDURANCE 



to take us back to our depot, 150 miles north. We lost 

 sight of it in half an hour, and are now trusting to our 

 footprints in the snow to guide us back to each bamboo 

 until we pick up the depot again. I trust that the 

 weather will keep clear. To-day we have done 12J4 

 geographical miles, and with only 70 lb. per man to pull 

 it is as hard, even harder, work than the 100 odd lb. 

 was yesterday, and far harder than the 250 lb. were 

 three weeks ago, when we were climbing the glacier. 

 This, I consider, is a clear indication of our failing 

 strength. The main thing against us is the altitude 

 of 11,200 ft. and the biting wind. Our faces are cut, 

 and our feet and hands are always on the verge of frost- 

 bite. Our fingers, indeed, often go, but we get them 

 round more or less. I have great trouble with two 

 fingers on my left hand. They have been badly jammed 

 when we were getting the motor up over the ice face 

 at winter quarters, and the circulation is not good. 

 Our boots now are pretty well worn out, and we have to 

 halt at times to pick the snow out of the soles. Our 

 stock of sennegrass is nearly exhausted, so we have 

 to use the same frozen stuff day after day. Another 

 trouble is that the lamp-wick with which we tie the 

 finnesko is chafed through, and we have to tie knots 

 in it. These knots catch the snow under our feet, 

 making a lump that has to be cleared every now and 

 then. I am of the opinion that to sledge even in the 

 height of summer on this plateau we should have at 

 least forty ounces of food a day per man, and we are 

 on short rations of the ordinary allowance of thirty-two 

 ounces. We depoted our extra underclothing to save 

 weight about three weeks ago, and are now in the same 

 clothes night and day. One suit of underclothing, 

 shirt and guernsey, and our thin Burberries, now all 

 patched. When we get up in the morning, out of the 



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