We have all been away on ski on the large floe to which we anchored this morning.  Gran is wonderfully good and gives instruction well.  It was hot and garments came off one by one—­the Soldier [2] and Atkinson were stripped to the waist eventually, and have been sliding round the floe for some time in that condition.  Nearly everyone has been wearing goggles; the glare is very bad.  Ponting tried to get a colour picture, but unfortunately the ice colours are too delicate for this.

To-night Campbell, Evans, and I went out over the floe, and each in turn towed the other two; it was fairly easy work—­that is, to pull 310 to 320 lbs.  One could pull it perhaps more easily on foot, yet it would be impossible to pull such a load on a sledge.  What a puzzle this pulling of loads is!  If one could think that this captivity was soon to end there would be little reason to regret it; it is giving practice with our deep sea gear, and has made everyone keen to learn the proper use of ski.

The swell has increased considerably, but it is impossible to tell from what direction it comes; one can simply note that the ship and brash ice swing to and fro, bumping into the floe.

We opened the ice-house to-day, and found the meat in excellent condition—­most of it still frozen.

Thursday, December 15.—­66 deg. 23’ S. 177 deg. 59’ W. Sit.  N. 2’, E. 5 1/2’.—­In the morning the conditions were unaltered.  Went for a ski run before breakfast.  It makes a wonderful difference to get the blood circulating by a little exercise.

After breakfast we served out ski to the men of the landing party.  They are all very keen to learn, and Gran has been out morning and afternoon giving instruction.

Meares got some of his dogs out and a sledge—­two lots of seven—­those that looked in worst condition (and several are getting very fat) were tried.  They were very short of wind—­it is difficult to understand how they can get so fat, as they only get two and a half biscuits a day at the most.  The ponies are looking very well on the whole, especially those in the outside stalls.

Rennick got a sounding to-day 1844 fathoms; reversible thermometers were placed close to bottom and 500 fathoms up.  We shall get a very good series of temperatures from the bottom up during the wait.  Nelson will try to get some more current observations to-night or to-morrow.

It is very trying to find oneself continually drifting north, but one is thankful not to be going east.

To-night it has fallen calm and the floes have decidedly opened; there is a lot of water about the ship, but it does not look to extend far.  Meanwhile the brash and thinner floes are melting; everything of that sort must help—­but it’s trying to the patience to be delayed like this.

We have seen enough to know that with a north-westerly or westerly wind the floes tend to pack and that they open when it is calm.  The question is, will they open more with an easterly or south-easterly wind—­that is the hope.