386 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
(August 
yesterday — a good honest blow, the drift vanishing long 
before the wind. This and the rise of temperature (to 
+ 2°) has smoothed and polished all ice or snow surfaces. 
A few days ago I could walk anywhere in my soft finnesko 
with sealskin soles ; to-day it needed great caution to 
prevent tumbles. I think there has been a good deal of 
ablation. 
The sky is clear to-day, but the wind still strong though 
warm. I went along the shore of the North Bay and 
climbed to the glacier over one of the drifted faults in the 
ice face. It is steep and slippery, but by this way one 
can arrive above the Ramp without touching rock and 
thus avoid cutting soft footwear. 
The ice problems in our neighbourhood become more 
fascinating and elusive as one re-examines them by the 
returning light ; some will be solved. 
Monday y August 21. — Weights and measurements 
last evening. We have remained surprisingly constant. 
There seems to have been improvement in lung power 
and grip as shown by spirometer and dynamometer, but 
weights have altered very little. I have gone up nearly 
3 lbs. in winter, but the increase has occurred during the 
last month, when I have been taking more exercise. 
Certainly there is every reason to be satisfied with the 
general state of health. 
The ponies are becoming a handful. Three of the 
four exercised to-day so far have run away — Christopher 
and Snippets broke away from Oates and Victor from 
Bowers. Nothing but high spirits, there is no vice in 
these animals ; but I fear we are going to have trouble 
