562 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [February 
chasms, unbridged, but not very deep, I think. Wc turned 
to the north between two, but to our chagrin they con- 
verged into chaotic disturbance. We had to retrace our 
steps for a mile or so, then struck to the west and got on 
to a confused sea of sastrugi, pulling very hard ; wc put 
up the sail, Evans' nose suffered, Wilson very cold, every- 
thing horrid. Camped for lunch in the sastrugi ; the only 
comfort, things looked clearer to the west and we were 
obviously going downhill. In the afternoon wc struggled 
on, got out of sastrugi and turned over on glazed sur- 
face, crossing many crevasses — very easy work on ski. 
Towards the end of the march we realised the certainty of 
maintaining a more or less straight course to the depot, 
and estimate distance 10 to 15 miles. 
Food is low and weather uncertain, so that many- 
hours of the day were anxious ; but this evening, though 
we are not as far advanced as I expected, the outlook is 
much more promising. Evans is the chief anxiety now ; 
his cuts and wounds suppurate, his nose looks very bad, 
and altogether he shows considerable signs of being played 
out. Things may mend for him on the glacier, and his 
wounds get some respite under warmer conditions. I am 
indeed glad to think we shall so soon have done with 
plateau conditions. It took us 27 days to reach the Pole 
and 21 days back — in all 48 days — nearly 7 weeks in low 
temperature with almost incessant wind. 
End of the Summit Journey 
Wednesday, February 7. — Mount Darwin [or Upper 
Glacier] Depot, R. 21. Height 7100. Lunch Temp. - 9 0 ; 
Supper Temp, [a blank here]. A wretched day with satis- 
