The idea of making our station Cape Crozier has again come on the tapis.  There would be many advantages:  the ease of getting there at an early date, the fact that none of the autumn or summer parties could be cut off, the fact that the main Barrier could be reached without crossing crevasses and that the track to the Pole would be due south from the first:—­the mild condition and absence of blizzards at the penguin rookery, the opportunity of studying the Emperor penguin incubation, and the new interest of the geology of Terror, besides minor facilities, such as the getting of ice, stones for shelters, &c.  The disadvantages mainly consist in the possible difficulty of landing stores—­a swell would make things very unpleasant, and might possibly prevent the landing of the horses and motors.  Then again it would be certain that some distance of bare rock would have to be traversed before a good snow surface was reached from the hut, and possibly a climb of 300 or 400 feet would intervene.  Again, it might be difficult to handle the ship whilst stores were being landed, owing to current, bergs, and floe ice.  It remains to be seen, but the prospect is certainly alluring.  At a pinch we could land the ponies in McMurdo Sound and let them walk round.

The sun is shining brightly this afternoon, everything is drying, and I think the swell continues to subside.

Tuesday, December 6.—­Lat. 59 deg. 7’.  Long. 177 deg. 51’ E. Made good S. 17 E. 153; 457’ to Circle.  The promise of yesterday has been fulfilled, the swell has continued to subside, and this afternoon we go so steadily that we have much comfort.  I am truly thankful mainly for the sake of the ponies; poor things, they look thin and scraggy enough, but generally brighter and fitter.  There is no doubt the forecastle is a bad place for them, but in any case some must have gone there.  The four midship ponies, which were expected to be subject to the worst conditions, have had a much better time than their fellows.  A few ponies have swollen legs, but all are feeding well.  The wind failed in the morning watch and later a faint breeze came from the eastward; the barometer has been falling, but not on a steep gradient; it is still above normal.  This afternoon it is overcast with a Scotch mist.  Another day ought to put us beyond the reach of westerly gales.

We still continue to discuss the project of landing at Cape Crozier, and the prospect grows more fascinating as we realise it.  For instance, we ought from such a base to get an excellent idea of the Barrier movement, and of the relative movement amongst the pressure ridges.  There is no doubt it would be a tremendous stroke of luck to get safely landed there with all our paraphernalia.

Everyone is very cheerful—­one hears laughter and song all day—­it’s delightful to be with such a merry crew.  A week from New Zealand to-day.