ch. lvii] The Societies Expedition 
465 
attempt the ascent of the mountains near a vast pile of 
moraine material which he had seen on a reconnoitring 
journey. The party ascended a steep snow-slope which 
divides two masses of bare rocky foot-hills, and rises to a 
plateau separating them from the higher mountains beyond. 
Armitage reached an elevation of 5000 ft., and obtained a 
view of a glacier, afterwards called the Ferrar Glacier, wind- 
ing inland between high rocky cliffs. Here the supporting 
party returned, while Armitage and Skelton with the rest 
of the extended party continued to ascend the steep snow 
slopes, most arduous and toilsome work. At 6000 ft. they 
were stopped by an outcrop of rock, and Armitage then re- 
solved to attempt the descent into the Ferrar Glacier, a fall 
of 1800 feet. In this his party succeeded. On December 
1 8th they commenced the ascent of the glacier, and by 
January 1st, 1903, were 7500 feet above the sea. One of 
the men broke down and was left in a tent with half the 
party, while Armitage pushed on with the rest until his 
elevation was over 8900 feet. In returning Armitage fell 
down a crevasse, and was saved with great difficulty. 
They returned to the ship on the 19th, after having dis- 
covered a practicable route to the interior. It was a 
piece of excellent pioneer work. 
Many shorter but useful sledge journeys were made by 
Koettlitz, Ferrar, Hodgson, and Bernacchi which threw 
much light on the volcanic region, where the numerous 
craters show the result of a very remarkable volcanic 
outburst. Thus Koettlitz proved the insularity of Black 
Island, examined the northern side of Minna Bluff, and 
ascended to the summit of Brown Island, 2750 ft. in 
height. 
As the summer advanced the anxious work of freeing 
the boats, which had sunk deep in the snow, was under- 
taken ; equally laborious work was entailed in getting the 
ship ready for sea, and well-founded hopes were enter- 
tained that a relief ship would arrive. 
M. I. 
