582 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [March 
ui miles. Temp, not quite so low, but expect we are 
in for cold night (Temp. -27°). 
W ednesday, February 29. — Lunch. Cold night. 
Minimum Temp. -37*5°; -30 0 with north-west wind, 
force 4, when we got up. Frightfully cold starting ; 
luckily Bowers and Oates in their last new finncsko; 
keeping my old ones for present. Expected awful march 
and for first hour got it. Then things improved and 
we camped after 5^ hours marching close to lunch camp 
— 22^. Next camp is our depot and it is exactly 13 
miles. It ought not to take more than i| days ; we pray 
for another fine one. The oil will just about spin out in 
that event, and we arrive 3 clear days' food in hand. 
The increase of ration has had an enormously beneficial 
result. Mountains now looking small. Wind still very 
light from west — cannot understand this wind. 
Thursday, March 1. — Lunch. Very cold last night — 
minimum -41*5°. Cold start to march, too, as usual 
now. Got away at 8 and have marched within sight of 
depot ; flag something under 3 miles away. We did 
1 1 h yesterday and marched 6 this morning. Heavy 
dragging yesterday and very heavy this morning. Apart 
from sledging considerations the weather is wonderful. 
Cloudless days and nights and the wind trifling. Worse 
luck, the light airs come from the north and keep us 
horribly cold. For this lunch hour the exception has 
come. There is a bright and comparatively warm sun. 
All our gear is out drying. 
Friday , March 2. — Lunch. Misfortunes rarely come 
singly. We marched to the (Middle Barrier) depot 
