THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



The letter to the commander of the Nimrod contained 

 the following statement of our plans: 



" Camp^ Granite Harbour.* 

 " Dear Sir, — I beg to inform you that we intend 

 leaving here to-morrow in continuation of our journey 

 towards the Magnetic Pole. We have to work our two 

 sledges by relays, which, of course, means slow pro- 

 gress — only about four miles per day. At this rate we 

 hope to reach the north side of the Drygalski Ice Barrier 

 at the point where ' low sloping shore ' is marked on the 

 Admiralty Chart of the Antarctic Sheet III. (please 

 see sketch on opposite page), by about December 15. 

 We propose to make a depot there marked by a black 

 flag similar to the one we are leaving here at the island 

 at south side of entrance to Granite Harbour. We 

 propose to travel inland from the ' low sloping shore,' 

 and if possible reach the Magnetic Pole and return to 

 depot. We estimate that this may take six weeks, so 

 that we may not return to the coast at the low sloping 

 shore depot until about January 25. We propose to wait 

 there until the Nimrod calls for us at the beginning of 

 February." 



The letter concluded with detailed instructions re- 

 garding the course to be pursued in searching for the 

 party. 



* At this time we were under the impression that this island was 

 on the south side of Granite Harbour. We did not know that we had 

 already left Granite Harbour about twelve miles to the south of us. 



