i 9 ri] LOADING BALLAST 117 
The grotto party are making headway into the ice 
for our larder, but it is slow and very arduous work. 
However, once made it will be admirable in every 
way. 
To-morrow we begin sending ballast off to the ship ; 
some 30 tons will be sledged off by the ponies. The hut 
and grotto parties will continue, and the arrangements for 
the depot journey will be commenced. I discussed these 
with Bowers this afternoon — he is a perfect treasure, 
enters into one's ideas at once, and evidently thoroughly 
understands the principles of the game. 
I have arranged to go to Hut Point with Meares and 
some dogs to-morrow to test the ice and see how the land 
lies. As things are at present we ought to have little 
difficulty in getting the depot party away any time before 
the end of the month, but the ponies will have to cross 
the Cape * without loads. There is a way down on the 
south side straight across, and another way round, keeping 
the land on the north side and getting on ice at the Cape 
itself. Probably the ship will take the greater part of 
the loads. 
Saturday, January 14. — The completion of our station 
is approaching with steady progress. The wind was 
strong from the S.S.E. yesterday morning, sweeping over 
the camp; the temperature fell to 15 0 , the sky became 
overcast. To the south the land outlines were hazy 
with drift, so my dog tour was abandoned. In the after- 
noon, with some moderation of conditions, the ballast 
party went to work, and wrought so well that more than 
* Cape Evans, which lay on the S. side of the new hut. 
