i 9 xo] A DAMAGED RUDDER 43 
Snow squalls have been passing at intervals — the wind 
continues in the N.W. It is comparatively warm. 
We saw the first full-grown Emperor penguin to-night. 
Monday y December 19. — On the whole, in spite of many 
bumps, we made good progress during the night, but the 
morning (present) outlook is the worst we've had. We 
seem to be in the midst of a terribly heavy screwed pack ; 
it stretches in all directions as far as the eye can see, and 
the prospects are alarming from all points of view. I have 
decided to push west — anything to get out of these terribly 
heavy floes. Great patience is the only panacea for our 
ill case. It is bad luck. 
We first got amongst the very thick floes at I a.m., 
and jammed through some of the most monstrous I have 
ever seen. The pressure ridges rose 24 feet above the 
surface — the ice must have extended at least 30 feet 
below. The blows given us gave the impression of irre- 
sistible solidity. Later in the night we passed out of this 
into long lanes of water and some of thin brash ice, hence 
the progress made. I'm afraid we have strained our 
rudder ; it is stiff in one direction. We are in difficult 
circumstances altogether. This morning we have brilliant 
sunshine and no wind. 
Noon 67 0 54-5' S., 178 0 28' W. Made good S. 
34 W. 37' ; C. Crozicr 606'. Fog has spread up from 
the south with a very light southerly breeze. 
There has been another change of conditions, but I 
scarcely know whether to call it for the better or the 
worse. There are fewer heavy old floes ; on the other 
hand, the one-year floes, tremendously screwed and 
