ch. lx] Shackletonh Expedition 479 
of the pack, a distance of over 1500 miles, and meeting 
with very heavy weather. After trying along the Barrier 
for a place for winter quarters a landing was ultimately 
made close to Cape Royds at Ross I. under great difficulties, 
and on February 22nd the Nimrod left on her return 
voyage to New Zealand. 
On March 5 th an expedition with a supporting party 
was arranged to ascend Mt Erebus, and in this they 
were successful; the summit, which was estimated at 
13,370 ft., being reached on March 10th. A striking 
feature was found to be the vast quantity of large and 
perfect felspar crystals on the snow around the crater. 
Preliminary sledge journeys were made from August 
to get all hands into practice, and visits were made to 
Hut Point of the Discovery expedition, whither ultimately 
everything needed for the journey to the South Pole was 
brought, in order that the start might be made from the 
most southern point possible. Depots were also laid out. 
Ill luck befell them with the ponies, only four being left 
at the start. It was resolved that the sledge loads should 
be limited to 6501b., the sledge itself weighing 60 lb. 
The daily rations for the polar journey per man were as 
follows: — Pemmican y\ oz., biscuit 16 oz., cheese or 
chocolate and cocoa 2-7 oz., plasmon and quaker oats 
each 1 oz., sugar 4-3 oz., emergency ration 1-5 oz., total 
34 oz. This was doubtless an insufficient quantity, the 
pemmican allowance especially being much too small. 
On October 29th the southern party, consisting of 
Adams, Marshall, and Wild, under Shackleton, started, 
accompanied by a supporting party who returned on 
November 7th. The ponies did well, but crevasses 
rendered the going very dangerous and narrow escapes 
more than once occurred. Later the surface became soft, 
and on November 21st the first pony had to be shot, 
and a week later two others, the conditions being very 
bad. On December 1st the latitude of 83 0 16' was 
reached and they were left with one pony, which pulled 
one of the sledges while the other was dragged by them- 
selves. Misfortune, however, was soon to overtake them, 
for on December 7th the last pony fell down a crevasse, 
and complete disaster was only just avoided. 
The sledges had now to be dragged by the explorers 
