382 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [August 
fairly well. Both arc on the best terms with their mess- 
mates, and it was amusing last night to see little Anton 
jamming a felt hat over P.O. Evans' head in high good 
humour. 
Wright lectured on * Radium 9 last night. 
The transformation of the radio-active elements sug- 
gestive of the transmutation of metals was perhaps the 
most interesting idea suggested, but the discussion ranged 
mainly round the effect which the discovery of radio- 
activity has had on physics and chemistry in its bearing 
on the origin of matter, on geology as bearing on the 
internal heat of the earth, and on medicine in its curative 
powers. The geologists and doctors admitted little virtue 
to it, but of course the physicists boomed their own wares, 
which enlivened the debate. 
Thursday, August 17. — The weather has been extremely 
kind to us of late ; we haven't a single grumble against 
it. The temperature hovers pretty constantly at about 
-35°> there is very little wind and the sky is clear and 
bright. In such weather one sees well for more than 
three hours before and after noon, the landscape unfolds 
itself, and the sky colours arc always delicate and beautiful. 
At noon to-day there was bright sunlight on the tops of 
the Western Peaks and on the summit and steam of 
Erebus — of late the vapour cloud of Erebus has been 
exceptionally heavy and fantastic in form. 
The balloon has become a daily institution. Yesterday 
the instrument was recovered in triumph, but to-day the 
threads carried the searchers in amongst the icebergs 
and soared aloft over their crests — anon the clue was 
