PREFACE 
viii 
enthusiasm of his devotion to South Polar problems have 
been a continual inspiration. 
In trying to elucidate the origin as well as to describe 
the events of the various expeditions, I have assumed that 
from the historical point of view the motive and the aim 
are as important as the resulting achievement or failure. 
The story is told to the best of my power with an impartial 
mind, and scrupulously follows the facts ; if any error has 
been made as to the narrative it is a mistake and not due 
to any bias. Where an opinion is expressed that opinion 
is my own, and though I consider it right it may possibly 
seem wrong to some. 
The two introductory chapters dealing with voyages 
which fell short of the Antarctic Circle are designedly 
brief and uncritical. In them I have stated the views 
of those whom I consider to be the best authorities. The 
descriptions of exploration from the voyage of the Reso- 
lution to that of the Challenger are more detailed because, 
except for Cook’s voyage, the narratives drawn upon are 
almost all out of print and difficult to consult. The later 
voyages are touched on lightly, for each is described in 
one or several authoritative narratives recently published, 
and to be found everywhere. The names of these works 
are given in the Appendix. 
In selecting and arranging for the illustrations I have 
been greatly helped by the Editor of this series, my old 
colleague, Dr. J. Scott Keltie. The unique picture of 
Admiral Bellingshausen was secured by the kind repre- 
sentations made to the Head of the Russian Admiralty 
by my friend Colonel J. de Shokalsicy of St. Peters- 
burg. Captain R. F. Scott of the Discovery, Profes- 
sor E. von Drygalski of the Gauss, Dr. Otto Norden- 
sicjold of the Antarctic, M. Arctowski of the Belgica, 
