22nd January 1912.

We made a good start this morning and Mr. Evans’ eyes is got pretty well alright again, so things looks a bit brighter.  After starting we soon got round the corner from the Granite Pillars to between the mainland and Mt.  Hope, on rising up on the slope between the mountain and the mainland, as soon as we sighted the Barrier, Crean let go one huge yell enough to frighten the ponies out of their graves of snow, and no more Beardmore for me after this.  When we began to descend on to the Barrier it only required one of us to drag the sledge down to within a mile of the pony and sledge depot, after exchanging our sledge as arranged, picking up a small amount of pony meat, and fitted up bamboo for mast so that we shall be able to fix up a sail when favourable, we proceeded on our way to cross the Barrier.  We have now 360 miles to travel geographically to get to Hut Point.  Mr. Evans complained to me while outside the tent that he had a stiffness at the back of his legs behind the knees.  I asked him what he thought it was, and he said could not account for it, so if he dont soon get rid of it I am to have a look and see if anything is the matter with him, as I know from what I have seen and been told before the symptoms of scurvy is pains and swelling behind the knee round the ankle and loosening of the teeth, ulcerated gums.  To-night I watched to see his gums, and I am convinced he is on the point of something anyhow, and this I have spoken to Crean about, but he dont seem to realise it.  But I have asked him to wait developments for a time.  It seems we are in for more trouble now, but lets hope for the best.

    23rd January 1912.

We got away pretty well and did a good journey, having covered about 14 miles over a fairly good surface.  We have passed the Blizzard Camp and glad of it too, again to-day we saw in several places where the bridges on the crevasses had fallen through.  A good job they none of them fell through when we were going over them as the width would have taken all through with them, and in every case where they had fallen through was where we had gone over, as the mark of the sledge was very distinct in each case.  Mr. Evans seems better to-day.

    24th January 1912.

Did a good run to-day over a good surface.  The weather have been very warm, not much to write to-night as everything is going well.

    25th January 1912.

Started off in very thick weather, the temperature is very high and the snow is wet and clogging all day on our ski, which made dragging heavy, and towards evening it got worse.  After lunch we got a good breeze for an hour, when it changed to a blizzard and almost rained.  We saw the depot ahead sometimes, so we tried to reach it as we thought we might be in for another few days like we had near the land on our outward journey.  Anyhow we reached it after a tremendous struggle owing to the wet and bad light.  I took off my ski and carried them on my shoulder to finish up the last half a mile.  The blizzard died down after we had camped and turned in for the night.  Looked at the thermometer which showed 34.