SOUTH 
outstanding feature of the Ross Sea side was tlie journey made 
by these six men. The earlier journeys for the first year did 
not produce any sign of the qualities of leadership amongst 
the others. Mackintosh was fortunate for the long journey 
in that he had these three men with him : Ernest Wild, 
Richards, and Joyce. 
Before proceeding vdth the adventures of this party I want 
to make clear in these pages how much 1 appreciate the assis- 
tance T received both in Australia and New Zealand, especially 
in the latter dominion. And amongst the many friends there 
it is not invidious on my part to lay special stress on the name 
of Leonard Tripp, who has been my mentor, counsellor, and 
friend for many years, and who, when the Expedition was 
in precarious and difficult circumstances, devoted his energy, 
thought, and gave his whole time and advice to the best interests 
of our cause. I also must thank Edward Saunders, who for 
the second time has greatly helped me in preparing an Expe- 
dition record for publication. 
To the Dominion Government I tender my warmest thanks. 
To the people of New Zealand, and especially to those many 
friends — ^too numerous to mention here— who helped us when 
our fortunes were at a low ebb, I wish to sav that their kindness 
is an ever-green memory to me. If ever a man had cause to 
be grateful for assistance in dark days, I am he. 
The Aurora, under the command of Captain ^neas Mackin- 
tosh, sailed from Hobart for the Ross Sea on December 24, 1914. 
The ship had refitted in Sydney, where the State and Federal 
Govermnents had given generous assistance, and would be able, 
if necessary, to spend two years in the Antarctic. My instruc- 
tions to Captain Mackintosh, in brief, were to proceed to the 
Ross Sea, make a base at some convenient point in or near 
McMurdo Sound, land stores and equipment, and lay depots on 
the Great Ice Barrier in the direction of the Beardmore Glacier 
for the use of the party that I expected to bring overland from 
the Weddell Sea coast. This programme would involve some 
heavy sledging, but the ground to be covered was familiar, 
and I had not anticipated that the work would present any 
great difficulties. The Aurora carried materials for a hut, full 
242 
