Sunday, November 19.—­Camp 15.  We have struck a real bad surface, sledges pulling well over it, but ponies sinking very deep.  The result is to about finish Jehu.  He was terribly done on getting in to-night.  He may go another march, but not more, I think.  Considering the surface the other ponies did well.  The ponies occasionally sink halfway to the hock, little Michael once or twice almost to the hock itself.  Luckily the weather now is glorious for resting the animals, which are very placid and quiet in the brilliant sun.  The sastrugi are confused, the underlying hard patches appear as before to have been formed by a W.S.W. wind, but there are some surface waves pointing to a recent south-easterly wind.  Have been taking some photographs, Bowers also.

Monday, November 20.—­Camp 16.  The surface a little better.  Sastrugi becoming more and more definite from S.E.  Struck a few hard patches which made me hopeful of much better things, but these did not last long.  The crocks still go.  Jehu seems even a little better than yesterday, and will certainly go another march.  Chinaman reported bad the first half march, but bucked up the second.  The dogs found the surface heavy.  To-morrow I propose to relieve them of a forage bag.  The sky was slightly overcast during the march, with radiating cirro-stratus S.S.W.-N.N.E.  Now very clear and bright again.  Temp, at night -14 deg., now 4 deg..  A very slight southerly breeze, from which the walls protect the animals well.  I feel sure that the long day’s rest in the sun is very good for all of them.

Our ponies marched very steadily last night.  They seem to take the soft crusts and difficult plodding surface more easily.  The loss of condition is not so rapid as noticed to One Ton Camp, except perhaps in Victor, who is getting to look very gaunt.  Nobby seems fitter and stronger than when he started; he alone is ready to go all his feed at any time and as much more as he can get.  The rest feel fairly well, but they are getting a very big strong ration.  I am beginning to feel more hopeful about them.  Christopher kicked the bow of his sledge in towards the end of the march.  He must have a lot left in him though.

Tuesday, November 21.—­Camp 17.  Lat. 80 deg. 35’.  The surface decidedly better and the ponies very steady on the march.  None seem overtired, and now it is impossible not to take a hopeful view of their prospect of pulling through. (Temp. -14 deg., night.) The only circumstance to be feared is a reversion to bad surfaces, and that ought not to happen on this course.  We marched to the usual lunch camp and saw a large cairn ahead.  Two miles beyond we came on the Motor Party in Lat. 80 deg. 32’.  We learned that they had been waiting for six days.  They all look very fit, but declare themselves to be very hungry.  This is interesting as showing conclusively that a ration amply sufficient for the needs of men leading ponies is quite insufficient for men doing hard pulling work; it therefore fully justifies the provision which we have made for the Summit work.  Even on that I have little doubt we shall soon get hungry.  Day looks very thin, almost gaunt, but fit.  The weather is beautiful—­long may it so continue. (Temp. +6 deg., 11 A.M.)