330 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
As there was no food either for dogs^ mules, or men in 
any of the depots, the initial starting weights would have 
to be very large. To help as far as possible some small 
depot journeys would be made in the spring. During 
the whole winter so far the cheerfulness of the party had 
been splendid under the most trying conditions, but there 
now seemed to be an added sprightliness with the return 
of light. 
Nelson had been occupying his time by a very ingenious 
method of predicting occultations. He predicted alto- 
gether nearly fifty, but unfortunately was only able to 
get one or two observations. These observations were for 
obtaining the exact longitude. The whole Sound at this 
time to the north and west of Inaccessible Island was open 
water. We had two enormous drifts of nine to ten feet 
high leading from the door of the annexe down to the sea. 
The latter end of July the weather broke up entirely and 
we had a repetition of our usual blizzards for the season. 
