532 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
about an hour we discovered that a sleeping-bag had 
fallen off the sledge. We had to go back and carry it on. 
It cost us over an hour and disorganised our party. We 
have only covered ioi miles (geo.) and it's been about 
the hardest pull we've had. We think of leaving our 
ski here, mainly because of risk of breakage. Over the 
sastrugi it is all up and down hill, and the covering of 
ice crystals prevents the sledge from gliding even on the 
down-grade. The sastrugi, I fear, have come to stay, and 
we must be prepared for heavy marching, but in two days 
I hope to lighten loads with a depot. We are south of 
Shacklcton's last camp, so, I suppose, have made the 
most southerly camp. 
Sunday, January 7. — Height 10,560. Lunch. Temp. 
-21*3°. The vicissitudes of this work are bewildering. 
Last night we decided to leave our ski on account of the 
sastrugi. This morning we marched out a mile in 40 min. 
and the sastrugi gradually disappeared. I kept debating 
the ski question and at this point stopped, and after dis- 
cussion we went back and fetched the ski ; it cost us 
ii hours nearly. Marching again, I found to my horror 
we could scarcely move the sledge on ski ; the first hour was 
awful owing to the wretched coating of loose sandy snow. 
However, we persisted, and towards the latter end of our 
tiring march we began to make better progress, but the work 
is still awfully heavy. I must stick to the ski after this. 
Afternoon. Camp 60. T. -23 0 . Height 10,570. Obs. : 
Lat. 88° 18' 40" S. ; Long. 157 0 21' E. ; Var. 179 0 15' W. 
Very heavy pulling still, but did 5 miles (geo.) in over 
four hours. 
