I have been working very hard at sledging figures with Bowers’ able assistance.  The scheme develops itself in the light of these figures, and I feel that our organisation will not be found wanting, yet there is an immense amount of detail, and every arrangement has to be more than usually elastic to admit of extreme possibilities of the full success or complete failure of the motors.

I think our plan will carry us through without the motors (though in that case nothing else must fail), and will take full advantage of such help as the motors may give.  Our spring travelling is to be limited order.  E. Evans, Gran, and Forde will go out to find and re-mark ‘Corner Camp.’  Meares will then carry out as much fodder as possible with the dogs.  Simpson, Bowers, and I are going to stretch our legs across to the Western Mountains.  There is no choice but to keep the rest at home to exercise the ponies.  It’s not going to be a light task to keep all these frisky little beasts in order, as their food is increased.  To-day the change in masters has taken place:  by the new arrangement

        Wilson takes Nobby
        Cherry-Garrard takes Michael
        Wright takes Chinaman
        Atkinson takes Jehu.

The new comers seem very pleased with their animals, though they are by no means the pick of the bunch.

Sunday, September 3.—­The weather still remains fine, the temperature down in the minus thirties.  All going well and everyone in splendid spirits.  Last night Bowers lectured on Polar clothing.  He had worked the subject up from our Polar library with critical and humorous ability, and since his recent journey he must be considered as entitled to an authoritative opinion of his own.  The points in our clothing problems are too technical and too frequently discussed to need special notice at present, but as a result of a new study of Arctic precedents it is satisfactory to find it becomes more and more evident that our equipment is the best that has been devised for the purpose, always excepting the possible alternative of skins for spring journeys, an alternative we have no power to adopt.  In spite of this we are making minor improvements all the time.

Sunday, September 10.—­A whole week since the last entry in my diary.  I feel very negligent of duty, but my whole time has been occupied in making detailed plans for the Southern journey.  These are finished at last, I am glad to say; every figure has been checked by Bowers, who has been an enormous help to me.  If the motors are successful, we shall have no difficulty in getting to the Glacier, and if they fail, we shall still get there with any ordinary degree of good fortune.  To work three units of four men from that point onwards requires no small provision, but with the proper provision it should take a good deal to stop the attainment of our object.  I have tried to take every reasonable possibility of misfortune into consideration, and