540 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[January 
after marching in the soft snow all day where we have 
been comparatively restful on ski. 
Night position. — Lat. 88° 57' 25" S. ; Long. 160 0 21' E. ; 
Var. 179° 49' W. Minimum T. -23-5°. 
Only 63 miles (geo.) from the Pole to-night. We ought 
to do the trick, but oh ! for a better surface. It is quite 
evident this is a comparatively windless area. The 
sastrugi are few and far between, and all soft. I should 
imagine occasional blizzards sweep up from the S.E., but 
none with violence. We have deep tracks in the snow, 
which is soft as deep as you like to dig down. 
Saturday, January 13. — Lunch Height 10,390. Baro- 
meter low ? lunch Lat. 89 0 3' 18", Started on some soft 
snow, very heavy dragging and went slow. We could have 
supposed nothing but that such conditions would last 
from now onward, but to our surprise, after two hours we 
came on a sea of sastrugi, all lying from S. to E., pre- 
dominant E.S.E. Have had a cold little wind from S.E. 
and S.S.E., where the sky is overcast. Have done 5 "6 
miles and are now over the 89th parallel. 
Night camp 65.— Height 10,270. T. -22'5°, Minimum 
-23*5°. Lat. 89 0 9' S. very nearly. We started very well 
in the afternoon. Thought we were going to make a real 
good march, but after the first two hours surface crystals 
became as sandy as ever. Still we did 5*6 miles geo., giving 
over 11 for the day. Well, another day with double 
figures and a bit over. The chance holds. 
It looks as though we were descending slightly ; 
sastrugi remain as in forenoon. It is wearisome work this 
tugging and straining to advance a light sledge. Still, 
