I9iij 
FURTHER IMPRESSIONS 
155 
loads over the soft snow patches without any difficulty. 
It is trying to feel that so great a help to our work has 
been left behind at the station. 
Impressions 
It is pathetic to see the ponies floundering in the soft 
patches. The first sink is a shock to them and seems to 
brace them to action. Thus they generally try to rush 
through when they feel themselves sticking. If the patch 
is small they land snorting and agitated on the harder 
surface with much effort. And if the patch is extensive 
they plunge on gamely until exhausted. Most of them 
after a bit plunge forward with both forefeet together, 
making a series of jumps and bringing the sledge behind 
them with jerks. This is, of course, terribly tiring for 
them. Now and again they have to stop, and it is horrid 
to see them half engulfed in the snow, panting and heaving 
from the strain. Now and again one falls and lies 
trembling and temporarily exhausted. It must be terribly 
trying for them, but it is wonderful to see how soon they 
recover their strength. The quiet, lazy ponies have a 
much better time than the eager ones when such troubles 
arise. 
The soft snow which gave the trouble is evidently in 
the hollow of one of the big waves that continue through 
the pressure ridges at Cape Crozier towards the Bluff. 
There are probably more of these waves, though we 
crossed several during the last part of the march — so 
far it seems that the soft parts are in patches only and 
do not extend the whole length of the hollow. Our 
