It is decided to take on the Motor Party in advance for three days, then Day and Hooper return.  We hope Jehu will last three days; he will then be finished in any case and fed to the dogs.  It is amusing to see Meares looking eagerly for the chance of a feed for his animals; he has been expecting it daily.  On the other hand, Atkinson and Oates are eager to get the poor animal beyond the point at which Shackleton killed his first beast.  Reports on Chinaman are very favourable, and it really looks as though the ponies are going to do what is hoped of them.

Wednesday, November 22.—­Camp 18.  Everything much the same.  The ponies thinner but not much weaker.  The crocks still going along.  Jehu is now called ‘The Barrier Wonder’ and Chinaman ‘The Thunderbolt.’  Two days more and they will be well past the spot at which Shackleton killed his first animal.  Nobby keeps his pre-eminence of condition and has now the heaviest load by some 50 lbs.; most of the others are under 500 lbs. load, and I hope will be eased further yet.  The dogs are in good form still, and came up well with their loads this morning (night temp. -14 deg.).  It looks as though we ought to get through to the Glacier without great difficulty.  The weather is glorious and the ponies can make the most of their rest during the warmest hours, but they certainly lose in one way by marching at night.  The surface is much easier for the sledges when the sun is warm, and for about three hours before and after midnight the friction noticeably increases.  It is just a question whether this extra weight on the loads is compensated by the resting temperature.  We are quite steady on the march now, and though not fast yet get through with few stops.  The animals seem to be getting accustomed to the steady, heavy plod and take the deep places less fussily.  There is rather an increased condition of false crust, that is, a crust which appears firm till the whole weight of the animal is put upon it, when it suddenly gives some three or four inches.  This is very trying for the poor beasts.  There are also more patches in which the men sink, so that walking is getting more troublesome, but, speaking broadly, the crusts are not comparatively bad and the surface is rather better than it was.  If the hot sun continues this should still further improve.  One cannot see any reason why the crust should change in the next 100 miles. (Temp. + 2 deg..)

The land is visible along the western horizon in patches.  Bowers points out a continuous dark band.  Is this the dolerite sill?

Thursday, November 23.—­Camp 19.  Getting along.  I think the ponies will get through; we are now 150 geographical miles from the Glacier.  But it is still rather touch and go.  If one or more ponies were to go rapidly down hill we might be in queer street.  The surface is much the same I think; before lunch there seemed to be a marked improvement, and after lunch the ponies marched much better, so that one supposed a betterment of the friction.  It is banking up to the south (T. +9 deg.) and I’m afraid we may get a blizzard.  I hope to goodness it is not going to stop one marching; forage won’t allow that.