TO MRS. E. A. WILSON MY DEAR MRS. WILSON,
APPENDIX
Title: Scott's Last Expedition Volume I
Author: Captain R. F. Scott
Language: English
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreaders Team
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. I. BEING THE JOURNALS OF
CAPTAIN R. F. SCOTT, R.N., C.V.O.
VOL. II. BEING THE REPORTS OF THE JOURNEYS AND THE SCIENTIFIC WORK UNDERTAKEN BY DR. E. A. WILSON AND THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION
ARRANGED BY
LEONARD HUXLEY
WITH A PREFACE BY
SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, K.C.B., F.R.S.
WITH PHOTOGRAVURE FRONTISPIECES, 6 ORIGINAL SKETCHES IN PHOTOGRAVURE BY DR. E. A. WILSON, 18 COLOURED PLATES (10 FROM DRAWINGS BY DR. WILSON), 260 FULL PAGE AND SMALLER ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY HERBERT G. PONTING AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION, PANORAMAS AND MAPS
VOLUME I
NEW YORK
1913
PREFACE
Fourteen years ago Robert Falcon Scott was a rising naval officer, able, accomplished, popular, highly thought of by his superiors, and devoted to his noble profession. It was a serious responsibility to induce him to take up the work of an explorer; yet no man living could be found who was so well fitted to command a great Antarctic Expedition. The undertaking was new and unprecedented. The object was to explore the unknown Antarctic Continent by land. Captain Scott entered upon the enterprise with enthusiasm tempered by prudence and sound sense. All had to be learnt by a thorough study of the history of Arctic travelling, combined with experience of different conditions in the Antarctic Regions. Scott was the initiator and founder of Antarctic sledge travelling.
His discoveries were of great importance. The survey and soundings along the barrier cliffs, the discovery of King Edward Land, the discovery of Ross Island and the other volcanic islets, the examination of the Barrier surface, the discovery of the Victoria Mountains—a range of great height and many hundreds of miles in length, which had only before been seen from a distance out at sea—and above all the discovery of the great ice cap on which the South Pole is situated, by one of the most remarkable polar journeys on record. His small but excellent scientific staff worked hard and with trained intelligence, their results being recorded in twelve large quarto volumes.
The great discoverer had no intention of losing touch with his beloved profession though resolved to complete his Antarctic work. The exigencies of the naval service called him to the command of battleships and to confidential work of the Admiralty; so that five years elapsed before he could resume his Antarctic labours.
The object of Captain Scott's second expedition was mainly scientific, to complete and extend his former work in all branches of science. It was his ambition that in his ship there should be the most completely equipped expedition for scientific purposes connected with the polar regions, both as regards men and material, that ever left these shores. In this he succeeded. He had on board a fuller complement of geologists, one of them especially trained for the study of physiography, biologists, physicists, and surveyors than ever before composed the staff of a polar expedition. Thus Captain Scott's objects were strictly scientific, including the completion and extension of his former discoveries. The results will be explained in the second volume of this work. They will be found to be extensive and important. Never before, in the polar regions, have meteorological, magnetic and tidal observations been taken, in one locality, during five years. It was also part of Captain Scott's plan to reach the South Pole by a long and most arduous journey, but here again his intention was, if possible, to achieve scientific results on the way, especially hoping to discover fossils which would throw light on the former history of the great range of mountains which he had made known to science.
The principal aim of this great man, for he rightly has his niche among the polar Dii Majores, was the advancement of knowledge. From all aspects Scott was among the most remarkable men of our time, and the vast number of readers of his journal will be deeply impressed with the beauty of his character. The chief traits which shone forth through his life were conspicuous in the hour of death. There are few events in history to be compared, for grandeur and pathos, with the last closing scene in that silent wilderness of snow. The great leader, with the bodies of his dearest friends beside him, wrote and wrote until the pencil dropped from his dying grasp. There was no thought of himself, only the earnest desire to give comfort and consolation to others in their sorrow. His very last lines were written lest he who induced him to enter upon Antarctic work should now feel regret for what he had done.
'If I cannot write to Sir Clements, tell him I thought much of him, and never regretted his putting me in command of the Discovery.'
CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM.
Sept. 1913.
Contents of the First Volume
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THROUGH STORMY SEAS
General Stowage—A Last Scene in New Zealand—Departure—On Deck with the Dogs—The Storm—The Engine-room Flooded—Clearing the Pumps—Cape Crozier as a Station—Birds of the South—A Pony's Memory—Tabular Bergs—An Incomparable Scene—Formation of the Pack—Movements of the Floes … 1
CHAPTER II
IN THE PACK
A Reported Island—Incessant Changes—The Imprisoning Ice—Ski-ing and Sledging on the Floes—Movement of Bergs—Opening of the Pack—A Damaged Rudder—To Stop or not to Stop—Nicknames—Ski Exercise—Penguins and Music—Composite Floes—Banked Fires—Christmas in the Ice—The Penguins and the Skua—Ice Movements—State of the Ice-house—Still in the Ice—Life in the Pack—Escape from the Pack—A Calm—The Pack far to the North—Science in the Ice … 20
CHAPTER III
LAND
Land at Last—Reach Cape Crozier—Cliffs of Cape Crozier—Landing
Impossible—Penguins and Killers—Cape Evans as Winter Station—The
Ponies Landed—Penguins' Fatuous Conduct—Adventure with Killer
Whales—Habits of the Killer Whale—Landing Stores—The Skuas
Nesting—Ponies and their Ways—Dangers of the Rotting Ice … 53
CHAPTER IV
SETTLING IN
Loss of a Motor—A Dog Dies—Result of Six Days' Work—Restive
Ponies—An Ice Cave—Loading Ballast—Pony Prospects—First Trip
to Hut Point—Return: Prospects of Sea Ice—A Secure Berth—The
Hut—Home Fittings and Autumn Plans—The Pianola—Seal Rissoles—The
Ship Stranded—Ice begins to go. … 73
CHAPTER V
DEPOT LAYING TO ONE TON CAMP
Dogs and Ponies at Work—Stores for Depots—Old Stores at Discovery
Hut—To Encourage the Pony—DepÔt Plans—Pony Snowshoes—Impressions
on the March—Further Impressions—Sledging Necessities and
Luxuries—A Better Surface—Chaos Without; Comfort Within—After the
Blizzard—Marching Routine—The Weakest Ponies Return—Bowers and
Cherry-Garrard—Snow Crusts and Blizzards—A Resented Frostbite—One
Ton Camp. … 96
CHAPTER VI
ADVENTURE AND PERIL
Dogs' and Ponies' Ways—The Dogs in a Crevasse—Rescue Work—Chances
of a Snow Bridge—The Dog Rations—A Startling Mail—Cross the Other
Party—The End of Weary Willy—The Ice Breaks—The Ponies on the
Floe—Safely Back. … 122
CHAPTER VII
AT DISCOVERY HUT
Fitting up the Old Hut—A Possible Land Route—The Geological Party
Arrives—Clothing—Exceptional Gales—Geology at Hut Point—An Ice
Foot Exposed—Stabling at Hut Point—Waiting for the Ice—A Clear
Day—Pancake Ice—Life at Hut Point—From Hut Point to Cape Evans—A
Blizzard on the Sea Ice—Dates of the Sea Freezing. … 138
CHAPTER VIII
HOME IMPRESSIONS AND AN EXCURSION
Baseless Fears about the Hut—The Death of 'Hackenschmidt'—The Dark
Room—The Biologists' Cubicle—An Artificer Cook—A Satisfactory
Organisation—Up an Ice Face—An Icy Run—On getting Hot … 158
CHAPTER IX
THE WORK AND THE WORKERS
Balloons—Occupations—Many Talents—The Young Ice goes out—Football:
Inverted Temperatures—Of Rainbows—Football: New Ice—Individual
Scientific Work—Individuals at Work—Thermometers on the Floe—Floe
Temperatures—A Bacterium in the Snow—Return of the Hut Point
Party—Personal Harmony … 171
CHAPTER X
IN WINTER QUARTERS: MODERN STYLE
On Penguins—The Electrical Instruments—On Horse Management—On
Ice Problems—The Aurora—The Nimrod Hut—Continued Winds—Modern
Interests—The Sense of Cold—On the Floes—A Tribute to Wilson … 190
CHAPTER XI
TO MIDWINTER DAY
Ventilation—On the Meteorological Instruments—Magnesium
Flashlight—On the Beardmore Glacier—Lively Discussions—Action of
Sea Water on Ice—A Theory of Blizzards—On Arctic Surveying—Ice
Structure—Ocean Life—On Volcanoes—Daily Routine—On Motor
Sledging—Crozier Party's Experiments—Midwinter Day Dinner—A
Christmas Tree—An Ethereal Glory … 205
CHAPTER XII
AWAITING THE CROZIER PARTY
Threats of a Blizzard—Start of the Crozier Party—Strange Winds—A
Current Vane—Pendulum Observations—Lost on the Floe—The Wanderer
Returns—Pony Parasites—A Great Gale—The Ways of Storekeepers—A
Sick Pony—A Sudden Recovery—Effects of Lack of Light—Winds of
Hurricane Force—Unexpected Ice Conditions—Telephones at Work—The
Cold on the Winter Journey—Shelterless in a Blizzard—A Most Gallant
Story—Winter Clothing Nearly Perfect. 228
CHAPTER XIII
THE RETURN OF THE SUN
The Indomitable Bowers—A Theory of Blizzards—Ponies' Tricks—On
Horse Management—The Two Esquimaux Dogs—Balloon Records—On
Scurvy—From Tent Island—On India—Storms and Acclimatisation—On
Physiography—Another Lost Dog Returns—The Debris Cones—On Chinese
Adventures—Inverted Temperature. … 255
CHAPTER XIV
PREPARATIONS: THE SPRING JOURNEY
On Polar Clothing—Prospects of the Motor Sledges—South Polar Times,
II—The Spring Western Journey—The Broken Glacier Tongue—Marching
Against a Blizzard—The Value of Experience—General Activity—Final
Instructions … 276
CHAPTER XV
THE LAST WEEKS AT CAPE EVANS
Clissold's Accident—Various Invalids—Christopher's Capers—A Motor
Mishap—Dog Sickness—Some Personal Sketches—A Pony Accident—A
Football Knee—Value of the Motors—The Balance of Heat and Cold—The
First Motor on the Barrier—Last Days at Cape Evans. … 290
CHAPTER XVI
SOUTHERN JOURNEY: THE BARRIER STAGE
Midnight Lunches—A Motor Breaks Down—The Second Motor Fails—Curious
Features of the Blizzard—Ponies Suffer in a Blizzard—Ponies go
Well—A Head Wind—Bad Conditions Continue—At One Ton Camp—Winter
Minimum Temperature—Daily Rest in the Sun—Steady Plodding—The First
Pony Shot—A Trying March—The Second Pony Shot—Dogs, Ponies, and
Driving—The Southern Mountains Appear—The Third Blizzard—A Fourth
Blizzard—The Fifth and Long Blizzard—Patience and Resolution—Still
Held Up—The End of the Barrier Journey. … 308
CHAPTER XVII
ON THE BEARDMORE GLACIER
Difficulties with Deep Snow—With Full Loads—After-Effects of the Great Storm—A Fearful Struggle—Less Snow and Better Going—The Valley of the Beardmore—Wilson Snow Blind—The Upper Glacier Basin—Return of the First Party—Upper Glacier Depot. … 340
CHAPTER XVIII
THE SUMMIT JOURNEY TO THE POLE
Pressures Under Mount Darwin—A Change for the Better—Running of a
Sledge—Lost Time Made Up—Comfort of Double Tent—Last Supporting
Party Returns—Hard Work on the Summit—Accident to Evans—The Members
of the Party—Mishap to a Watch—A Chill in the Air—A Critical
Time—Forestalled—At the Pole. … 354
CHAPTER XIX
THE RETURN FROM THE POLE
A Hard Time on the Summit—First Signs of Weakening—Difficulty in
Following Tracks—Getting Hungrier—Accidents Multiply—Accident
to Scott—The Ice-fall—End of the Summit Journey—Happy Moments on
Firm Land—In a Maze of Crevasses—Mid-Glacier DepÔt Reached—A Sick
Comrade—Death of P.O. Evans. … 377
CHAPTER XX
THE LAST MARCH
Snow Like Desert Sand—A Gloomy Prospect—No Help from the Wind—The
Grip of Cold—Three Blows of Misfortune—From Bad to Worse—A
Sick Comrade—Oates' Case Hopeless—The Death of Oates—Scott
Frostbitten—The Last Camp—Farewell Letters—The Last Message. … 396
APPENDIX … 419
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE FIRST VOLUME
Photogravure Plates
Portrait of Captain Robert F. Scott, R.N., C.V.O. Frontispiece
From a Painting by Harrington Mann
From Sketches by Dr. Edward A. Wilson
A Lead in the Pack 26
On the Way to the Pole 364
'Black Flag Camp'—Amundsen's Black Flag within a Few Miles of the
South Pole 367
Amundsen's Tent at the South Pole 371
Cairn left by the Norwegians S.S.W. from Black Flag Camp and Amundsen's
South Pole Mark 376
Mount Buckley, One of the Last of Many Pencil Sketches made on the
Return Journey from the Pole 386
Coloured Plates
From Water-colour Drawings by Dr. Edward A. Wilson
The Great Ice Barrier, looking east from Cape Crozier Facing p. 51
Hut Point, Midnight, March 27, 1911 138
A Sunset from Hut Point, April 2, 1911 150
Mount Erebus 169
Lunar Corona 176
Paraselene, June 15, 1911 178
'Birdie' Bowers reading the Thermometer on the Ramp, June 6,
1911 214
Iridescent Clouds. Looking North from Cape Evans 257
Exercising the Ponies 288
Mr. Ponting Lecturing on Japan 202
Panoramas
From Photographs by Herbert G. Ponting
The Western Mountains as seen from Captain Scott's Winter Quarters
at Cape Evans Facing p. 126
Mount Terror and its Glaciers 126
The Royal Society Mountains of Victoria Land—Telephoto Study from
Cape Evans 284
Mount Erebus and Glaciers to the Turk's Head 284
Full Page Plates
The Full Page Plates are from photographs by Herbert G. Ponting, except where otherwise stated
The Crew of the 'Terra Nova' Facing p. 2
Captain Oates and Ponies on the 'Terra Nova' 6
'Vaida' 8
'Krisravitsa' 8
'Stareek' Malingering 8
Manning the Pumps 10
The First Iceberg 10
Albatross Soaring 12
Albatrosses Foraging in the Wake of the 'Terra Nova' 12
Dr. Wilson and Dr. Atkinson loading the Harpoon Gun 14
A. B. Cheetham—the Boatswain of the 'Terra Nova' 14
Evening Scene in the Pack 17
Lieut. Evans in the Crow's Nest 20
Furling Sail in the Pack 20
A Berg breaking up in the Pack 23
Moonlight in the Pack 29
Christmas Eve (1910) in the Pack 36
'I don't care what becomes of Me' 44
An Adelie about to Dive 44
Open Water in the Ross Sea 46
In the Pack—a Lead opening up 48
Cape Crozier: the End of the Great Ice Barrier 54
Ice-Blink over the Barrier 56
The Barrier and Mount Terror 56
The Midnight Sun in McMurdo Sound 58
Entering McMurdo Sound—Cape Bird and Mount Erebus 60
Surf breaking against Stranded Ice at Cape Evans 60
The 'Terra Nova' in McMurdo Sound 62
Disembarking the Ponies 64
Ponies tethered out on the Sea Ice Facing p. 64
Lieut. H. E. de P. Rennick 66
Lieut. Rennick and a Friendly Penguin 66
The Arch Berg from Within 68
Something of a Phenomenon—A Fresh Water Cascade 71
The Arch Berg from Without 74
Ponting Cinematographs the Bow of the 'Terra Nova' Breaking through
the Ice-floes 76
Landing a Motor-Sledge 76
Lieut. Evans and Nelson Cutting a Cave for Cold Storage 78
The Condition of Affairs a Week after Landing 78
Killer Whales Rising to Blow 82
Hut Point and Observation Hill 82
The Tenements 84
Plan of Hut Page 85
The Point of the Barne Glacier Facing p. 90
Winter Quarters at Cape Evans 94
Lillie and Dr. Levick Sorting a Trawl Catch 101
Seals Basking on Newly-formed Pancake Ice off Cape Evans 106
Lieut. Tryggve Gran 112
Captain Scott on Skis 118
Summer Time: the Ice opening up 133
Spray Ridges of Ice after a Blizzard 145
A Berg Drifting in McMurdo Sound 155
Pancake Ice Forming into Floes off Cape Evans 155
Ponting Developing a Plate in the Dark Room 160
The Falling of the Long Polar Night 164
Depot Laying and Western Parties on their Return to Cape Evans 166
A Blizzard Approaching across the Sea Ice 171
The Barne Glacier: a Crevasse with a Thin Snow Bridge 174
Dr. Wilson Working up the Sketch which is given at p. 178 180
Dr. Simpson at the Unifilar Magnetometer 182
Dr. Atkinson in his Laboratory 182
Winter Work 184
Dr. Atkinson and Clissold hauling up the Fish Trap 186
The Freezing up of the Sea 188
Whale-back Clouds over Mount Erebus 190
(Photo by F. Debenham)
The Hut and the Western Mountains from the Top of the Ramp 194
Cape Royds, looking North 199
The Castle Berg Facing p. 205
Captain Scott's Last Birthday Dinner 210
Captain Scott in his 'Den' 218
Dr. Wilson and Lieut Bowers reading the Ramp Thermometer in the Winter
Night, -40° Fahrenheit—a Flashlight Photograph 221
Finnesko 228
Ski-shoes for use with Finnesko 228
Finnesko fitted with the Ski-shoes 228
Finnesko with Crampons 228
Dr. Atkinson's Frostbitten Hand 232
Petty Officer Evans Binding up Dr. Atkinson's Hand 232
Pony takes Whisky 234
The Stables in Winter 234
Oates and Meares at the Blubber Stove in the Stables 238
Petty Officers Crean and Evans Exercising their Ponies in the
Winter 240
Oates and Meares out Skiing in the Night 240
Remarkable Cirrus Clouds over the Barne Glacier 244
Lieut. Evans Observing an Occultation of Jupiter 247
Dr. Simpson in the Hut at the Other End of the Telephone Timing the
Observation 247
'Birdie' (Lieut. H. R. Bowers) 252
The Summit of Mount Erebus 254
Capt. L. E. G. Oates by the Stable Door 260
Debenham, Gran, and Taylor in their Cubicle 264
Nelson and his Gear 264
Dr. Simpson sending up a Balloon 266
The Polar Party's Sledging Ration 266
An Ice Grotto—Tent Island in Distance 269
Dr. Wilson Watching the First Rays of Sunlight being Recorded after
the long Winter Night 271
The Return of the Sun 271
C. H. Meares and 'Osman,' the Leader of the Dogs 274
Meares and Demetri at 'Discovery' Hut 277
The Main Party at Cape Evans after the Winter, 1911 280
The Castle Berg at the End of the Winter 282
Mount Erebus over a Water-worn Iceberg 290
On the Summit of an Iceberg 290
Dr. Wilson and Pony 'Nobby' 292
Cherry-Garrard giving his Pony 'Michael' a roll in the Snow 292
Surveying Party's Tent after a Blizzard Facing p 294
(Photo by Lieut T Gran)
Dogs with Stores about to leave Hut Point 296
Dogs Galloping towards the Barrier 296
Meares and Demetri with their Dog-teams leaving Hut Point 296
Dr. Wilson 298
Preparing Sledges for Polar Journey 300
Day's Motor under Way 302
One of the Motor Sledges 302
Meares and Demetri at the Blubber Stove in the 'Discovery' Hut 305
The Motor Party 308
H. G. Ponting and one of his Cinematograph Cameras 311
Members of the Polar Party having a Meal in Camp 316
(Enlarged from a cinematograph film)
Members of the Polar Party getting into their Sleeping-bags 322
(Enlarged from a cinematograph film)
Ponies behind their Shelter in Camp on the Barrier 328
(Photo by Capt. R. F. Scott)
Ponies on the March 334
(Photo by F. Debenham)
Captain Scott wearing the Wallet in which he carried his Sledging
Journals 338
Pressure on the Beardmore below the Cloudmaker Mountain 340
(Photo by C. S. Wright)
Mount Kyffin 342
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
Camp under the Wild Range 345
(Photo by Capt. R. F. Scott)
Dr. Wilson Sketching on the Beardmore 348
(Photo by Capt. R. F. Scott)
Some Members of the Supporting Parties as they appeared on their
Return from the Polar Journey 350
Camp at Three Degree Depot 352
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
Chief Stoker Lashly 355
Petty Officer Crean 355
Pitching the Double Tent on the Summit 358
(Photo by Lieut H R Bowers)
The Polar Party on the Trail 360
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
At the South Pole 374
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
Amundsen's Tent at the South Pole Facing p. 380
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
Sastrugi 382
The Cloudmaker Mountain 390
(Photo by Lieut. H. R. Bowers)
Petty Officer Edgar Evans, R.N. 392
Facsimile of the Last Words of the Journal 403
Facsimile of Message to the Public 414
Map
British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913—Track Chart of Main Southern
Journey At end of text
British Antarctic Expedition, 1910
Shore Parties
Officers
Name. Rank, &c.
Robert Falcon Scott Captain, R.N., C.V.O.
Edward R. G. R. Evans Commander, R.N.
Victor L. A. Campbell Lieutenant, R.N. (Emergency List).
Henry R. Bowers Lieutenant, R.N.
Lawrence E. G. Oates Captain 6th Inniskilling Dragoons.
G. Murray Levick Surgeon, R.N.
Edward L. Atkinson Surgeon, R.N., Parasitologist.
Scientific Staff
Edward Adrian Wilson M.A., M.B., Chief of the Scientific
Staff, and Zoologist.
George C. Simpson D.Sc., Meteorologist.
T. Griffith Taylor B.A., B.Sc., B.E., Geologist.
Edward W. Nelson Biologist.
Frank Debenham B.A., B.Sc., Geologist.
Charles S. Wright B.A., Physicist.
Raymond E. Priestley Geologist.
Herbert G. Ponting F.R.G.S., Camera Artist.
Cecil H. Meares In Charge of Dogs.
Bernard C. Day Motor Engineer.
Apsley Cherry-Garrard B.A., Asst. Zoologist.
Tryggve Gran Sub-Lieutenant, Norwegian N.R.,
Ski Expert.
Men
W. Lashly Chief Stoker.
W. W. Archer Chief Steward.
Thomas Clissold Cook, late R.N.
Edgar Evans Petty Officer, R.N.
Robert Forde Petty Officer, R.N.
Thomas Crean Petty Officer, R.N.
Thomas S. Williamson Petty Officer, R.N.
Patrick Keohane Petty Officer, R.N.
George P. Abbott Petty Officer, R.N.
Frank V. Browning Petty Officer, 2nd Class, R.N.
Harry Dickason Able Seaman, R.N.
F. J. Hooper Steward, late R.N.
Anton Omelchenko Groom.
Demetri Gerof Dog Driver.
Ship's Party
Officers, &c.
Harry L. L. Pennell Lieutenant, R.N.
Henry E. de P. Rennick Lieutenant, R.N.
Wilfred M. Bruce Lieutenant, R.N.R.
Francis R. H. Drake Asst. Paymaster, R.N. (Retired),
Secretary & Meteorologist in Ship.
Dennis G. Lillie M.A., Biologist in Ship.
James R. Denniston In Charge of Mules in Ship.
Alfred B. Cheetham R.N.R., Boatswain.
William Williams, O.N. Chief Engine-room Artificer, R.N., Engineer.
William A. Horton, O.N. Eng. Rm. Art., 3rd Cl., R.N., 2nd Engr.
Francis E. C. Davies, O.N. Shipwright, R.N., Carpenter.
Frederick Parsons Petty Officer, R.N.
William L. Heald Late P.O., R.N.
Arthur S. Bailey Petty Officer, 2nd Class, R.N.
Albert Balson Leading Seaman, R.N.
Joseph Leese, O.N. Able Seaman, R.N.
John Hugh Mather, O.N. Petty Officer, R.N.V.R.
Robert Oliphant Able Seaman.
Thomas F. McLeon ,, ,,
Mortimer McCarthy ,, ,,
William Knowles ,, ,,
Charles Williams ,, ,,
James Skelton ,, ,,
William McDonald ,, ,,
James Paton ,, ,,
Robert Brissenden Leading Stoker, R.N.
Edward A. McKenzie ,, ,, ,,
William Burton Leading Stoker, R.N.
Bernard J. Stone ,, ,, ,,
Angus McDonald Fireman.
Thomas McGillon ,,
Charles Lammas ,,
W. H. Neale Steward.
GLOSSARY
Barrier. The immense sheet of ice, over 400 miles wide and of still greater length, which lies south of Ross Island to the west of Victoria Land. Brash. Small ice fragments from a floe that is breaking up. Drift. Snow swept from the ground like dust and driven before the wind. Finnesko. Fur boots. Flense, flence. To cut the blubber from a skin or carcase. Frost smoke. A mist of water vapour above the open leads, condensed by the severe cold. Hoosh. A thick camp soup with a basis of pemmican. Ice-foot. Properly the low fringe of ice formed about Polar lands by the sea spray. More widely, the banks of ice of varying height which skirt many parts of the Antarctic shores. Piedmont. Coastwise stretches of the ancient ice sheet which once covered the Antarctic Continent, remaining either on the land, or wholly or partially afloat. Pram. A Norwegian skiff, with a spoon bow. Primus. A portable stove for cooking. Ramp. A great embankment of morainic material with ice beneath, once part of the glacier, on the lowest slopes of Erebus at the landward end of C. Evans. Saennegras. A kind of fine Norwegian hay, used as packing in the finnesko to keep the feet warm and to make the fur boot fit firmly. Sastrugus. An irregularity formed by the wind on a snowplain. 'Snow wave' is not completely descriptive, as the sastrugus has often a fantastic shape unlike the ordinary conception of a wave. Skua. A large gull. Working crack. An open crack which leaves the ice free to move with the movement of the water beneath.
NOTE.
Passages enclosed in inverted commas are taken from home letters of
Captain Scott.
A number following a word in the text refers to a corresponding note in the Appendix to this volume.
