i9ii] OLD STORES AT DISCOVERT HUT 145 
to lunch — then shifted camp and provisions. Our weights 
arc now divided into three loads : two of food for ponies, 
one of men's provisions with some ponies' food. It is 
slow work, but we retreat slowly but surely from the 
chance of going out on the sea ice. 
We are camped about a mile south of C. Armitage. 
After camping I went to the east till abreast of Pram 
Point, finding the ice dangerously thin off C. Armitage. 
It is evident we must make a considerable detour to avoid 
danger. The rest of the party went to the Discovery hut 
to see what could be done towards digging it out. The 
report is unfavourable, as I expected. The drift inside 
has become very solid — it would take weeks of work 
to clear it. A great deal of biscuit and some butter, 
cocoa, &c, were seen, so that we need not have any 
anxiety about provisions if delayed in returning to Cape 
Evans. 
The dogs are very tired to-night. I have definitely 
handed the control of the second team to Wilson. He 
was very eager to have it and will do well I'm sure — but 
certainly also the dogs will not pull heavy loads — 500 
pounds proved a back-breaking load for 1 1 dogs to-day — 
they brought it at a snail's pace. Mearcs has estimated 
to give them two-thirds of a pound of biscuit a day. 
1 have felt sure he will find this too little. 
The ponies arc doing excellently. Their loads run 
up to Soo and 900 lbs. and they make very light of 
them. Oates said he could have gone on for some time 
to-night. 
Saturday, January 28. — Camp 2. The ponies went 
VOL. I. L 
