T. -11 deg.:  Obs. 87 deg. 20’ 8’’ S.; 160 deg. 40’ 53’’ E.; Var. 180 deg..  The sky is slightly overcast for the first time since we left the glacier; the sun can be seen already through the veil of stratus, and blue sky round the horizon.  The sastrugi have all been from the S.E. to-day, and likewise the wind, which has been pretty light.  I hope the clouds do not mean wind or bad surface.  The latter became poor towards the end of the afternoon.  We have not risen much to-day, and the plain seems to be flattening out.  Irregularities are best seen by sastrugi.  A skua gull visited us on the march this afternoon—­it was evidently curious, kept alighting on the snow ahead, and fluttering a few yards as we approached.  It seemed to have had little food—­an extraordinary visitor considering our distance from the sea.

Wednesday, January 3.—­Height:  Lunch, 10,110; Night, 10,180.  Camp 56.  T.-17 deg..  Minimum -18.5 deg..  Within 150 miles of our goal.  Last night I decided to reorganise, and this morning told off Teddy Evans, Lashly, and Crean to return.  They are disappointed, but take it well.  Bowers is to come into our tent, and we proceed as a five man unit to-morrow.  We have 5 1/2 units of food—­practically over a month’s allowance for five people—­it ought to see us through.  We came along well on ski to-day, but the foot-haulers were slow, and so we only got a trifle over 12 miles (geo.).  Very anxious to see how we shall manage to-morrow; if we can march well with the full load we shall be practically safe, I take it.  The surface was very bad in patches to-day and the wind strong.

‘Lat. 87 deg. 32’.  A last note from a hopeful position.  I think it’s going to be all right.  We have a fine party going forward and arrangements are all going well.’

Thursday, January 4.—­T. -17 deg., Lunch T. -16.5 deg..  We were naturally late getting away this morning, the sledge having to be packed and arrangements completed for separation of parties.  It is wonderful to see how neatly everything stows on a little sledge, thanks to P.O.  Evans.  I was anxious to see how we could pull it, and glad to find we went easy enough.  Bowers on foot pulls between, but behind, Wilson and myself; he has to keep his own pace and luckily does not throw us out at all.

The second party had followed us in case of accident, but as soon as I was certain we could get along we stopped and said farewell.  Teddy Evans is terribly disappointed but has taken it very well and behaved like a man.  Poor old Crean wept and even Lashly was affected.  I was glad to find their sledge is a mere nothing to them, and thus, no doubt, they will make a quick journey back._24_ Since leaving them we have marched on till 1.15 and covered 6.2 miles (geo.).  With full marching days we ought to have no difficulty in keeping up our average.

Night camp 57.  T. -16 deg..  Height 10,280.—­We started well on the afternoon march, going a good speed for 1 1/2 hours; then we came on a stratum covered with loose sandy snow, and the pulling became very heavy.  We managed to get off 12 1/2 miles (geo.) by 7 P.M., but it was very heavy work.