To-night the wind has dropped altogether and we return to the glorious conditions of a week ago.  I trust they may last for a few days at least.

Thursday, January 12.—­Bright sun again all day, but in the afternoon a chill wind from the S.S.W.  Again we are reminded of the shelter afforded by our position; to-night the anemometers on Observatory Hill show a 20-mile wind—­down in our valley we only have mild puffs.

Sledging began as usual this morning; seven ponies and the dog teams were hard at it all the forenoon.  I ran six journeys with five dogs, driving them in the Siberian fashion for the first time.  It was not difficult, but I kept forgetting the Russian words at critical moments:  ‘Ki’—­’right’; ‘Tchui’—­’left’; ‘Itah’—­’right ahead’; [here is a blank in memory and in diary]—­’get along’; ‘Paw’—­’stop.’  Even my short experience makes me think that we may have to reorganise this driving to suit our particular requirements.  I am inclined for smaller teams and the driver behind the sledge.  However, it’s early days to decide such matters, and we shall learn much on the depot journey.

Early in the afternoon a message came from the ship to say that all stores had been landed.  Nothing remains to be brought but mutton, books and pictures, and the pianola.  So at last we really are a self-contained party ready for all emergencies.  We are LANDED eight days after our arrival—­a very good record.

The hut could be inhabited at this moment, but probably we shall not begin to live in it for a week.  Meanwhile the carpenter will go on steadily fitting up the dark room and various other compartments as well as Simpson’s Corner. [6]

The grotto party are making headway into the ice for our larder, but it is slow and very arduous work.  However, once made it will be admirable in every way.

To-morrow we begin sending ballast off to the ship; some 30 tons will be sledged off by the ponies.  The hut and grotto parties will continue, and the arrangements for the depot journey will be commenced.  I discussed these with Bowers this afternoon—­he is a perfect treasure, enters into one’s ideas at once, and evidently thoroughly understands the principles of the game.

I have arranged to go to Hut Point with Meares and some dogs to-morrow to test the ice and see how the land lies.  As things are at present we ought to have little difficulty in getting the depot party away any time before the end of the month, but the ponies will have to cross the Cape [7] without loads.  There is a way down on the south side straight across, and another way round, keeping the land on the north side and getting on ice at the Cape itself.  Probably the ship will take the greater part of the loads.