i9i i] A TRYING MARCH 475 
that reminds one of April showers at home. The ponies 
came well on the second march and we shall start 2 hours 
later again to-morrow, i.e. at 3 a.m. (T. + 13 0 .) From 
this it will be a very short step to day routine when the 
time comes for man-hauling. The sastrugi seem to be 
gradually coming more to the south and a little more 
confused ; now and again they are crossed with hard 
westerly sastrugi. The walking is tiring for the men, one's 
feet sinking 2 or 3 inches at each step. Chinaman and 
Jimmy Pigg kept up splendidly with the other ponies. It 
is always rather dismal work walking over the great snow- 
plain when sky and surface merge in one pall of dead 
whiteness, but it is cheering to be in such good company 
with everything going on steadily and well. The dogs 
came up as we camped. Meares says the best surface h. 
has had yet. 
Monday, November 27. — Camp 23. (T. +8°, 12 p.m. ; 
+ 2°, 3 a.m. ; + 13 0 , 11 a.m. ; + 17 0 , 3 p.m.). Quite the most 
trying march we have had. The surface very poor at start. 
The advance party got away in front but made heavy 
weather of it, and we caught them up several times. This 
threw the ponies out of their regular work and prolonged 
the march. It grew overcast again, although after a 
summery blizzard all yesterday there was promise of better 
things. Starting at 3 a.m. we did not get to lunch camp 
much before 9. The second march was even worse. The 
advance party started on ski, the leading marks failed 
altogether, and they had the greatest difficulty in keeping 
a course. At the midcairn building halt the snow suddenly 
came down heavily, with a rise of temperature, and the 
