i9xi] FOOTBALL: NEW ICE 259 
little snow has fallen or drifted and the ice flowers are 
very sparse and scattered. 
We had an excellent game of football again to-day — 
the exercise is delightful and we get very warm. Atkinson 
is by far the best player, but Hooper, P.O. Evans, and 
Crean are also quite good. It has been calm all day again. 
Went over the sea ice beyond the Arch berg ; the ice 
half a mile beyond is only 4 inches. I think this must 
have been formed since the blow of yesterday, that is, 
in sixteen hours or less. 
Such rapid freezing is a hopeful sign, but the prompt 
dissipation of the floe under a southerly wind is distinctly 
the reverse. 
I am anxious to get our people back from Hut Point, 
mainly on account of the two ponies ; with so much calm 
weather there should have been no difficulty for the party 
in keeping up its supply of blubber ; an absence of which 
is the only circumstance likely to discomfort it. 
The new ice over which I walked is extraordinarily 
slippery and free from efflorescence. I think this must 
be a further sign of rapid formation. 
Friday , May 5. — Another calm day following a quiet 
night. Once or twice in the night a light northerly wind, 
soon dying away. The temperature down to - 12 0 . What 
is the meaning of this comparative warmth ? As usual in 
calms the Wind Vane Hill temperature is 3 0 or 4 0 higher. 
It is delightful to contemplate the amount of work which 
is being done at the station. No one is idle — all hands 
are full, and one cannot doubt that the labour will be 
productive of remarkable result. 
S 2 
