CHAPTER LXV 
REMAINING ANTARCTIC WORK 
The great object of Antarctic exploration is to dis- 
cover the outline of the Antarctic continent, and to study 
its physiography so far as the great ice-cap will admit of 
such researches. Among those who took an intelligent 
interest in this important question was the late Duke of 
Argyll's father, who had the firmest grasp of the subject 
and the deepest insight. His view was that our efforts 
should be directed to discovering the physiography of this 
continental land previous to its being almost entirely 
concealed by the ice-cap. In that way alone — combined 
with series of deep sea soundings radiating from the 
shores of Antarctica to lands to the north — could its 
geological history, and possible former connection with 
other lands, be ascertained. Impressed with these views, 
we saw that those coasts must be sought where the 
mountains are more or less clear of the assumed ice-cap. 
The northern coasts forming the eastern half of the 
Victoria and all the Enderby Quadrant appeared to be 
ice cliffs only, and therefore unsuited. It was evident that 
coasts and mountains with an eastern aspect would alone 
enable us to obtain the desired knowledge. There are 
two such eastern coasts. These are the western side of 
the Ross Sea facing east, and the western side of the 
Weddell Sea, the coast of Graham Land facing east. 
Victoria Land was selected for the first attempt, and 
a grand result was achieved by Captain Scott in his 
two expeditions. The great Victorian chain of mountains 
was traced from the Antarctic Circle to the apex of the 
quadrant, a distance of 1200 miles. The volcanic region 
of Ross Island was thoroughly explored. The basaltic 
irruptions were observed, together with the primitive 
rocks ; the great unaltered formation now known as the 
"Beacon Sandstone" was discovered, the movements and 
character of its glaciers were noted, a complete geological 
