The ponies did pretty well—­a cruel soft surface most of the time, but light loads, of course.  Jehu is better than I expected to find him, Chinaman not so well.  They are bad crocks both of them.

It was pretty cold during the night, -7 deg. when we camped, with a crisp breeze blowing.  The ponies don’t like it, but now, as I write, the sun is shining through a white haze, the wind has dropped, and the picketing line is comfortable for the poor beasts.

This, 1 P.M., is the feeding hour—­the animals are not yet on feed, but they are coming on.

The wind vane left here in the spring shows a predominance of wind from the S.W. quarter.  Maximum scratching, about S.W. by W.

Sunday, November 5.—­Camp 3.  ‘Corner Camp.’  We came over the last lap of the first journey in good order—­ponies doing well in soft surface, but, of course, lightly loaded.  To-night will show what we can do with the heavier weights.  A very troubled note from Evans (with motor) written on morning of 2nd, saying maximum speed was about 7 miles per day.  They have taken on nine bags of forage, but there are three black dots to the south which we can only imagine are the deserted motor with its loaded sledges.  The men have gone on as a supporting party, as directed.  It is a disappointment.  I had hoped better of the machines once they got away on the Barrier Surface.

The appetites of the ponies are very fanciful.  They do not like the oil cake, but for the moment seem to take to some fodder left here.  However, they are off that again to-day.  It is a sad pity they won’t eat well now, because later on one can imagine how ravenous they will become.  Chinaman and Jehu will not go far I fear.

Monday, November 6.—­Camp 4.  We started in the usual order, arranging so that full loads should be carried if the black dots to the south prove to be the motor.  On arrival at these we found our fears confirmed.  A note from Evans stated a recurrence of the old trouble.  The big end of No. 1 cylinder had cracked, the machine otherwise in good order.  Evidently the engines are not fitted for working in this climate, a fact that should be certainly capable of correction.  One thing is proved; the system of propulsion is altogether satisfactory.  The motor party has proceeded as a man-hauling party as arranged.

With their full loads the ponies did splendidly, even Jehu and Chinaman with loads over 450 lbs. stepped out well and have finished as fit as when they started.  Atkinson and Wright both think that these animals are improving.

The better ponies made nothing of their loads, and my own Snippets had over 700 lbs., sledge included.  Of course, the surface is greatly improved; it is that over which we came well last year.  We are all much cheered by this performance.  It shows a hardening up of ponies which have been well trained; even Oates is pleased!