RETURN OF THE NIMROD 



/^TER leaving us on February 22, the Nimrod had an 

 uneventful voyage back to New Zealand. Fair 

 winds were encountered all the way, and the ice gave 

 no difficulty, the coast of New Zealand being sighted 

 twelve days after the departure from Cape Royds. 

 During the winter the Nimrod had been laid up in Port 

 Lyttelton waiting till the time arrived to bring us back 

 to civilisation. The little ship had been docked and 

 thoroughly overhauled, so that all effects of the severe 

 treatment she received during the first voyage down 

 to the ice had been removed, and she was once more 

 ready to battle with the floes. Towards the end of the 

 year stores were taken on board, for there was a possi- 

 bility that a party might have to spend a second winter 

 at Cape Royds, if the men comprising one of the sledging 

 expeditions had not returned, and, of course, there 

 was always the possibility of the Nimrod herself being 

 caught in the ice and frozen in for the winter. Sufficient 

 stores were taken on board to provide for any such 

 eventualities, and as much coal as could be stowed 

 away was also carried. Captain P. F. Evans, who 

 had commanded the Koonya at the time she towed 

 the Nimrod down to the Antarctic Circle, was ap- 

 pointed master of the Nimrod under my power of 

 attorney. Captain England having resigned on account 

 of ill-health after reaching New Zealand earlier in the 

 year. 



The Nimrod left Lyttelton on December 1, 1908, 



40 



