LAYING THE DEPOTS 
covered. On January 1 search was continued round the south 
side of Glacier Tongue from the base towards the seaward end. 
There was much heavy pressure ; it was impossible to reach 
the summit owing to the wide crack. Distance covered 4 miles 
100 yds. On January 2 thick weather caused party to lay 
up. On 3rd, glacier was further examined, and several slopes 
formed by snow led to top of glacier, but crevasses between 
slope and the tongue prevented crossing. The party then pro- 
ceeded round the Tongue to Tent Island, which was also 
searched, a complete tour of the island being made. It was 
decided to make for Cape Evans, as thick weather was approach- 
hig. We arrived at 8 p.m. Distance 8 miles 490 yds. 
I remain, etc., 
Ernest E. Joyce. 
To Sir Ernest Shackleton, C.V.O., 
Commander, I.T.A.E." 
In September Eichards was forced to lay up at the hut 
owing to a strained heart, due presumably to stress of work 
on the sledging journeys. Early in October a party consisting 
of Joyce, Gaze, and Wild spent several days at Cape Royds, 
where they skinned specimens. They sledged stores back to 
Cape Evans in case it should be found necessary to remain 
there over another winter. In September, Joyce, Gaze, and 
Wild went out to Spencer-Smith's grave with a wooden cross, 
which they erected firmly. Relief arrived on January 10, 1917, 
but it is necessary now to turn back to the events of May 1915, 
when the Aurora was driven from her moorings off Cape Evans. 
303 
