CH. LVIl] 
The Societies' Expedition 
463 
opinion not so good as men in a long journey, and Scott 
had an unconquerable aversion to the employment of 
them in the second way. The dogs, twenty in number, 
had been obtained from Siberia, but five were lost in 
various ways before the travelling season arrived. 
Having thus settled every part of the equipment down 
to the minutest detail Scott then proceeded to plan the 
work for the coming season. He himself was to lead the 
journey to the south : Armitage was to attempt the main 
ridge of mountains, provided with ice axes, crampons, and 
ropes. Several shorter journeys were to precede them. 
Royds and Skelton made their way to Cape Crozier to see 
to the record post, as a signal to a relief ship, and returned 
on October 24th, having discovered the breeding-place of 
the Emperor penguins. On the 30th the supporting party, 
under Lieut. Barne, left for Depot A, where Scott had 
already established provisions. 
On November 2nd the southern party started under 
the command of Captain Scott, with Dr Wilson, Sub- 
Lieut. Shackleton, R.N.R., and the dogs. Barne was 
caught up just as he was rounding White Island. Odo- 
meters had been manufactured on board, the wheel being 
attached to the sterns of the sledges, so that a rough 
dead-reckoning could be kept, provided that the route 
was straight and the course observed and known. Stock- 
fish had been brought for the diet of the dogs, and though 
it had been taken by the advice of an experienced authority 
on dog-driving it soon became apparent that it was having 
a permanently bad effect on them. The food must have 
deteriorated on the passage through the tropics. Ad- 
vances could only be made by relays, going over 15 miles 
to make 5 miles good. 
On November 25th the latitude was 8o° S. On 
December 2nd they were passing a magnificent range of 
mountains running S.E. and N.W., with peaks 10,000 feet 
above the sea, and long rounded snow capes merging into 
the barrier. A deep chasm cut them off from any nearer 
approach to the land. For 31 days they had been at the 
wearisome relay work, as it was impossible to drag the 
whole load, but at length a suitable place for a depot 
was found, called Depot B. Throughout the journey 
Dr Wilson was indefatigable, spending two or three hours 
