Monday, March 13, A.M.—­The weather grew bad on Saturday night and we had a mild blizzard yesterday.  The wind went to the south and increased in force last night, and this morning there was quite a heavy sea breaking over the ice foot.  The spray came almost up to the dogs.  It reminds us of the gale in which we drove ashore in the Discovery. We have had some trouble with our blubber stove and got the hut very full of smoke on Saturday night.  As a result we are all as black as sweeps and our various garments are covered with oily soot.  We look a fearful gang of ruffians.  The blizzard has delayed our plans and everyone’s attention is bent on the stove, the cooking, and the various internal arrangements.  Nothing is done without a great amount of advice received from all quarters, and consequently things are pretty well done.  The hut has a pungent odour of blubber and blubber smoke.  We have grown accustomed to it, but imagine that ourselves and our clothes will be given a wide berth when we return to Cape Evans.

Wednesday, March 15, A.M.—­It was blowing continuously from the south throughout Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday—­I never remember such a persistent southerly wind.

Both Monday and Tuesday I went up Crater Hill.  I feared that our floe at Pram Point would go, but yesterday it still remained, though the cracks are getting more open.  We should be in a hole if it went. [18]

As I came down the hill yesterday I saw a strange figure advancing and found it belonged to Griffith Taylor.  He and his party had returned safely.  They were very full of their adventures.  The main part of their work seems to be rediscovery of many facts which were noted but perhaps passed over too lightly in the Discovery—­but it is certain that the lessons taught by the physiographical and ice features will now be thoroughly explained.  A very interesting fact lies in the continuous bright sunshiny weather which the party enjoyed during the first four weeks of their work.  They seem to have avoided all our stormy winds and blizzards.

But I must leave Griffith Taylor to tell his own story, which will certainly be a lengthy one.  The party gives Evans [P.O.] a very high character.

To-day we have a large seal-killing party.  I hope to get in a good fortnight’s allowance of blubber as well as meat, and pray that our floe will remain.

Friday, March 17, A.M.—­We killed eleven seals at Pram Point on Wednesday, had lunch on the Point, and carried some half ton of the blubber and meat back to camp—­it was a stiff pull up the hill.

Yesterday the last Corner Party started:  Evans, Wright, Crean, and Forde in one team; Bowers, Oates, Cherry-Garrard, and Atkinson in the other.  It was very sporting of Wright to join in after only a day’s rest.  He is evidently a splendid puller.

Debenham has become principal cook, and evidently enjoys the task.