i86 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
of the problems which engaged our attention. For 
instance, Wright was chiefly interested in the forms of 
ice-structure which we encountered. The most delicate 
ice-crystals, which withered at a breath, must needs be 
photographed in situ. There was no possibility of his 
bringing back specimens for study in the hut during the 
dark winter months. For similar reasons a somewhat 
bulky polariscope — in which sheets of ice were examined in 
polarised light — formed part of his load, and was vulgarly 
referred to as ' the Barrel Organ.' He also had charge 
of the theodolite. 
Debenham was engaged on the more usual work 
of collecting rock specimens and mapping their occur- 
rence in the field. For this purpose another camera 
was essential, since in general his investigations were 
carried out on the cliffs at some distance from the 
rest of us. 
The subject which primarily interested myself was 
the physiographic aspect of the region, or, as it may 
popularly be described, ' The last chapter in the geological 
history of Antarctica.' In other words, How has the land 
surface been affected by the flow of glaciers, by the action 
of wind, frost, water, and ice ? And a second and more 
interesting question I set myself was, How do the 
resulting features differ from those observed in more 
temperate regions, where water plays such an important 
part and ice erosion is absent ? 
On January 27 Pennell took us across the Sound in 
the Terra Nova from Glacier Tongue to Butter Point, 
where we arrived about 4 p.m. We spent some time 
