SOUTH 
since Friday, September 18, 1914, and I can recall the scene 
as we passed down tlie Thames with submarines and cruisers, 
in commission and bent on business, crossing our course. I 
can also remember the regret at leaving it all and the consequent 
* fedupness.' 
''September 21. — The sun is making rapid progress south, 
and we have had to-day over seventeen hours' light and twelve 
hours' sunlight. Oh for a release ! The monotony and worry 
of our helpless position is deadly. 1 suppose Shackleton and 
his party will have started depot-laying now and will be full 
of hopes for the future. I wonder whether the Endurance 
wintered in the ice or went north. I cannot help thinking that 
if she wintered in the Weddell Sea she mil be worse ofE than 
the Aurora, What a lot we have to look for in the next six 
months — news of Shackleton and the Endurance^ the party at 
Cape Evans, and the war. 
September 22.— Lat. 69° 12' S. ; long. 165° 00' B. Sturge 
Island (Balleny Group) is bearing north (true) ninety miles 
distant. Light north-west airs with clear, fine weather. Sighted 
Sturge Island in the morning, bearing due north of us and 
appearing like a faint low shadow on the horizon. It is good 
to get a good landmaik for fixing positions again, and it is good 
to see that we are making northerly progress, however small. 
Since breaking away from Cape Evans we have drifted roughly 
seven hundred and five miles around islands and past formidable 
obstacles, a wonderful drift ! It is good to thinly that it has 
not been in vain, and that the knowledge of the set and drift 
of the pack will be a valuable addition to the sum of human 
knowledge. The distance from Cape Evans to our present 
position is seven hundred and five miles (geographical). 
" September 27. — ^The temperature in my room last night 
was round about zero, rather chilly, but warm enough under 
the blankets. Hooke has dismantled his wireless gear. He 
feels rather sick about not getting communication, although he 
does not show it. 
" September 30. — ^Ninnis has been busy now for the past 
week on the construction of a new tractor. He is building the 
body and will assemble the motor in the fore 'tween-decks, 
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