Night.  Camp No. 47.  Bar. 21.18.  T. -7 deg..  I am so replete that I can scarcely write.  After sundry luxuries, such as chocolate and raisins at lunch, we started off well, but soon got amongst crevasses, huge snowfields roadways running almost in our direction, and across hidden cracks into which we frequently fell.  Passing for two miles or so along between two roadways, we came on a huge pit with raised sides.  Is this a submerged mountain peak or a swirl in the stream?  Getting clear of crevasses and on a slightly down grade, we came along at a swinging pace—­splendid.  I marched on till nearly 7.30, when we had covered 15 miles (geo.) (17 1/4 stat.).  I knew that supper was to be a ‘tightener,’ and indeed it has been—­so much that I must leave description till the morning.

Dead reckoning, Lat. 85 deg. 50’ S.; Long. 159 deg. 8’ 2’’ E. Bar. 21.22.

Towards the end of the march we seemed to get into better condition; about us the surface rises and falls on the long slopes of vast mounds or undulations—­no very definite system in their disposition.  We camped half-way up a long slope.

In the middle of the afternoon we got another fine view of the land.  The Dominion Range ends abruptly as observed, then come two straits and two other masses of land.  Similarly north of the wild mountains is another strait and another mass of land.  The various straits are undoubtedly overflows, and the masses of land mark the inner fringe of the exposed coastal mountains, the general direction of which seems about S.S.E., from which it appears that one could be much closer to the Pole on the Barrier by continuing on it to the S.S.E.  We ought to know more of this when Evans’ observations are plotted.

I must write a word of our supper last night.  We had four courses.  The first, pemmican, full whack, with slices of horse meat flavoured with onion and curry powder and thickened with biscuit; then an arrowroot, cocoa and biscuit hoosh sweetened; then a plum-pudding; then cocoa with raisins, and finally a dessert of caramels and ginger.  After the feast it was difficult to move.  Wilson and I couldn’t finish our share of plum-pudding.  We have all slept splendidly and feel thoroughly warm—­such is the effect of full feeding.

Tuesday, December 26.—­Lunch.  Bar. 21.11.  Four and three-quarters hours, 6 3/4 miles (geo.).  Perhaps a little slow after plum-pudding, but I think we are getting on to the surface which is likely to continue the rest of the way.  There are still mild differences of elevation, but generally speaking the plain is flattening out; no doubt we are rising slowly.

Camp 48.  Bar. 21.02.  The first two hours of the afternoon march went well; then we got on a rough rise and the sledge came badly.  Camped at 6.30, sledge coming easier again at the end.

It seems astonishing to be disappointed with a march of 15 (stat.) miles, when I had contemplated doing little more than 10 with full loads.