With helping contingent I went round the Cape.  Taylor and Nelson left at the Razor Back Island and report all well.  Simpson, Meares and Gran continued and have not yet returned.

Gran just back on ski; left party at 5 1/4 miles.  Says Meares and Simpson are returning on foot.  Reports a bad bit of surface between Tent Island and Glacier Tongue.  It was well that the party had assistance to cross this.

This winter travel is a new and bold venture, but the right men have gone to attempt it.  All good luck go with them.

Coal Consumption

Bowers reports that present consumption (midwinter) = 4 blocks per day (100 lbs.).

An occasional block is required for the absolute magnetic hut.  He reports 8 1/2 tons used since landing.  This is in excess of 4 blocks per day as follows: 

8 1/2 tons in 150 days = 127 lbs. per diem.
= 889 lbs. per week, or nearly 8 cwt.
= 20 1/2 tons per year.

Report August 4.

Used to date = 9 tons = 20,160 lbs.

Say 190 days at 106 lbs. per day.

Coal remaining 20 1/2 tons.

Estimate 8 tons to return of ship.

Total estimate for year, 17 tons.  We should have 13 or 14 tons for next year.

A FRESH MS. BOOK

Quotations on the Flyleaf

’Where the (Queen’s) Law does not carry it is irrational to exact an observance of other and weaker rules.’—­RUDYARD KIPLING.

Confident of his good intentions but doubtful of his fortitude.

’So far as I can venture to offer an opinion on such a matter, the purpose of our being in existence, the highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; but it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.’—­HUXLEY.

Wednesday, June 28.—­The temperature has been hovering around -30 deg. with a clear sky—­at midday it was exceptionally light, and even two hours after noon I was able to pick my way amongst the boulders of the Ramp.  We miss the Crozier Party.  Lectures have ceased during its absence, so that our life is very quiet.

Thursday, June 29.—­It seemed rather stuffy in the hut last night—­I found it difficult to sleep, and noticed a good many others in like case.  I found the temperature was only 50 deg., but that the small uptake on the stove pipe was closed.  I think it would be good to have a renewal of air at bed time, but don’t quite know how to manage this.

It was calm all night and when I left the hut at 8.30.  At 9 the wind suddenly rose to 40 m.p.h. and at the same moment the temperature rose 10 deg..  The wind and temperature curves show this sudden simultaneous change more clearly than usual.  The curious circumstance is that this blow comes out of a clear sky.  This will be disturbing to our theories unless the wind drops again very soon.