Towards Civilisation. 291 
indicating that it was not likely that we should 
encounter much pack-ice to the north, if any at all. 
I think all of us realised the important moment when 
we passed the latitude of Cape Adare, bound for 
civilisation, and the talk in the cabin and in the fore- 
castle generally dwelt upon home and home-coming. 
The members visited each other in their cabins and 
discussed the fact of returning, as every one now 
seemed to realise 
that another 
month might see 
us within the 
limits of the 
civilised world. 
A strong long- 
ing for sunny 
shores came over 
everyone; along- 
ing to see some- 
thing else but 
bare rocks and 
snow, to see 
other colours, 
real green grass, and, above all, ¢vees—treal trees with 
stems, branches, and green leaves on which our eyes 
and minds could rest. Our thoughts turned involun- 
tarily to country life on sunny shores, and the topics 
of the day were the life in fields and woods of Old 
England, or of the deep forests of Norway, where 
dainty birds of all kinds were whistling and singing in 
liquid tunes. What a change it would be from the 
hoarse scream of the penguin, or the cruel screech of 
the skuagull, or the wild howl of the Antarctic gales. 
U 2 
ON THE TOP OF THE GREAT BARRIER ON 
THE JOURNEY FARTHEST SOUTH. 
