SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[March 
Yesterday morning it was calm and I went up Crater 
Hill. The sea of stratus cloud hung curtain-like over 
the Strait — blue sky east and south of it and the Western 
Mountains bathed in sunshine, sharp, clear, distinct — a 
glorious glimpse of grandeur on which the curtain gradually 
descended. In the morning it looked as though great 
pieces of Barrier were drifting out. From the hill one 
found these to be but small fragments which the late gale 
had dislodged, leaving in places a blue wall very easily 
distinguished from the general white of the older fractures. 
The old floe and a good extent of new ice had remained 
fast in Pram Point Bay. Great numbers of seals up as 
usual. The temperature was up to + 20 0 at noon. In 
the afternoon a very chill wind from the east, tempera- 
ture rapidly dropping till zero in the evening. The Strait 
obstinately refuses to freeze. 
We are scoring another success in the manufacture 
of blubber lamps, which relieves anxiety as to lighting 
as the hours of darkness increase. 
The young ice in Pram Point Bay is already being 
pressed up. 
Friday, March 24, a.m. — Skuas still about, a few — 
very shy — very dark in colour after moulting. 
Went along Arrival Heights yesterday with very keen 
over-ridge wind — it was difficult to get shelter. In the 
evening it fell calm and has remained all night with 
temperature up to + 18 0 . This morning it is snowing 
with fairly large flakes. 
Yesterday for the first time saw the ice foot on the south 
side of the bay, a wall some 5 or 6 feet above water and 
