We are picking up last year’s cairns with great ease, and all show up very distinctly.  This is extremely satisfactory for the homeward march.  What with pony walls, camp sites and cairns, our track should be easily followed the whole way.  Everyone is as fit as can be.  It was wonderfully warm as we camped this morning at 11 o’clock; the wind has dropped completely and the sun shines gloriously.  Men and ponies revel in such weather.  One devoutly hopes for a good spell of it as we recede from the windy northern region.  The dogs came up soon after we had camped, travelling easily.

Thursday, November 9.—­Camp 6.  Sticking to programme, we are going a little over the 10 miles (geo.) nightly.  Atkinson started his party at 11 and went on for 7 miles to escape a cold little night breeze which quickly dropped.  He was some time at his lunch camp, so that starting to join the rearguard we came in together the last 2 miles.  The experience showed that the slow advance guard ponies are forced out of their place by joining with the others, whilst the fast rearguard is reduced in speed.  Obviously it is not an advantage to be together, yet all the ponies are doing well.  An amusing incident happened when Wright left his pony to examine his sledgemeter.  Chinaman evidently didn’t like being left behind and set off at a canter to rejoin the main body.  Wright’s long legs barely carried him fast enough to stop this fatal stampede, but the ridiculous sight was due to the fact that old Jehu caught the infection and set off at a sprawling canter in Chinaman’s wake.  As this is the pony we thought scarcely capable of a single march at start, one is agreeably surprised to find him still displaying such commendable spirit.  Christopher is troublesome as ever at the start; I fear that signs of tameness will only indicate absence of strength.  The dogs followed us so easily over the 10 miles that Meares thought of going on again, but finally decided that the present easy work is best.

Things look hopeful.  The weather is beautiful—­temp. -12 deg., with a bright sun.  Some stratus cloud about Discovery and over White Island.  The sastrugi about here are very various in direction and the surface a good deal ploughed up, showing that the Bluff influences the wind direction even out as far as this camp.  The surface is hard; I take it about as good as we shall get.

There is an annoying little southerly wind blowing now, and this serves to show the beauty of our snow walls.  The ponies are standing under their lee in the bright sun as comfortable as can possibly be.

Friday, November 10.—­Camp 7.  A very horrid march.  A strong head wind during the first part—­5 miles (geo.)—­then a snowstorm.  Wright leading found steering so difficult after three miles (geo.) that the party decided to camp.  Luckily just before camping he rediscovered Evans’ track (motor party) so that, given decent weather, we shall be able to follow this.  The ponies did excellently as usual, but the surface is good distinctly.  The wind has dropped and the weather is clearing now that we have camped.  It is disappointing to miss even 1 1/2 miles.