BETTER PROGRESS 



We had been pleased to find that the blizzard, 

 although it had delayed us and damaged our tent, had 

 proved a blessing in disguise. It had not brought 

 with it much fresh snow, but had blown away most of 

 the loose snow left by the preceding blizzard, leaving 

 behind it now a fairly hard snow surface suitable for 

 sledging. 



Mackay's eyes, still suffering from the effects of 

 snow-blindness, were treated with a solution of thin 

 tabloids (laminae) of sulphate of zinc and cocaine, with 

 the result that his eyes were much better the following 

 day, December 25. This day there was still a strong 

 breeze coming off the plateau, and sweeping over our 

 tent. A little later in the morning the weather became 

 calm, and a glorious sunny day smiled upon us. Mawson 

 and Mackay repaired the rents in the tent, while I saw 

 to repacking of the sledge with the remaining half load, 

 and collected some geological specimens. 



We started shortly before noon and commenced 

 dragging up the second part of our load to the accom- 

 paniment of the music of murmuring streams. During 

 our interval for lunch, Mawson was able to get some 

 theodolite angles. We had the great satisfaction, when 

 we turned in at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve, to find that 

 we were above the uncomfortable zone of thaw, and 

 everything around us was once more crisp and dry, 

 though cold. Our spirits, too, mounted with the altitude. 

 We were now over 1200 ft. above sea-level. 



