THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



evening the dip was 89° 48\ The run for the day was 

 fourteen miles. 



From the rapid rate at which the dip had been 

 increasing recently, as well as from a comparison of 

 Bernacchi's magnetic observations, Mawson estimated 

 that we were now about thirteen miles distant from 

 the probable mean position of the South Magnetic 

 Pole. He stated that in order to accurately locate 

 the mean position possibly a month of continuous 

 observation would be needed, but that the position he 

 indicated was now as close as we could locate it. 

 We decided accordingly, after discussing the matter 

 fully that night, to make a forced march of thirteen 

 miles to the approximate mean position of the Pole 

 on the following day, put up the flag there, and return 

 eleven miles back on our tracks the same day. Our 

 method of procedure on this journey of twenty-four 

 miles is described in the journal of the following day. 



Saturday, January 16. — ^We were up at about 6 a.m. 

 and after breakfast we pulled on our sledge for two 

 miles. We then depoted all our heavy gear and equip- 

 ment with the exception of the tent, sleeping-bag. 

 Primus stove and cooker, and a small quantity of food, 

 all of which we placed on the sledge together with the 

 legs of the dip circle and those of the theodolite to 

 serve as marks. We pulled on for two miles and fixed 

 up the legs of the dip circle to guide us back on our 

 track, the compass moving in a horizontal plane being 

 now useless for keeping us on our course. At two 

 miles further we fixed up the legs of the theodolite, 

 and two miles further put up our tent, and had a light 

 lunch. We then walked five miles in the direction 

 of the Magnetic Pole so as to place us in the mean 

 position calculated for it by Mawson, 72° 25' South 

 latitude, 155° 16' East longitude. Mawson placed his 



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