414 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
The ice cliffs all round the continent seem much the 
same. The depths over the shelf at the edge seem of about 
the same order also. 
We must remember that the new set of facts of the 
Great Plateau bounded by the new range of mountains was 
never thought of before 1903, and is not fully digested yet. 
I believe that the snowfall increases towards the fringe 
of the plateau sheet. 
These facts suffice to account for the outflow of 
Antarctic bergs. In latitudes 66° S. and 73° S. we find 
the same thickness of the ice cliffs. It must, however, 
be admitted that much of this theorising is very weak. 
Finally, with regard to the question of the high 
continental Plateau and the land under the ice sheet 
J will ask the Physiographer to descant. 
Discussion 
As usual, Captain Scott called on the members in the 
order in which they sat at the table. 
Oates commented on the difficulty of detecting 
differences in the Barrier level. He often saw herds of 
cattle on the ice surface which turned out to be debris of 
previous camps. 
Wilson said that if the outward movement was due to 
a flattening of the Barrier mass, then he would expect the 
great Shackleton Inlet trench to fill up. 
Wright suggested that it was aground before the great 
lateral trench was reached. 
Taylor drew attention to the great amount of surface- 
sculpturing due, not to pressure, but to thaw waters and 
