The expedition was originally formed for two years from the date of leaving England.  But before the ship left after landing us at Cape Evans in January 1911 the possibility of a third year was considered, and certain requests for additional transport and orders for stores were sent home.  Thus it came about that the ship now landed not only new sledges and sledging stores but also fourteen dogs from Kamchatka and seven mules, with their food and equipment.  The dogs were big and fat, but the only ones which proved of much service for sledging were Snowy, a nice white dog, and Bullett.  It was Oates’ idea that mules might prove a better form of transport on the Barrier than ponies.  Scott therefore wrote to Sir Douglas Haig, then C.-in-C. in India, that if he failed to reach the Pole in the summer of 1911-12, “it is my intention to make a second attempt in the following season provided fresh transport can be brought down:  the circumstances making it necessary to plan to sacrifice the transport animals used in any attempt.

“Before directing more ponies to be sent down I have thoroughly discussed the situation with Captain Oates, and he has suggested that mules would be better than ponies for our work and that trained Indian Transport Mules would be ideal.  It is evident already that our ponies have not a uniform walking pace and that in other small ways they will be troublesome to us although they are handy little beasts.”

The Indian Government not only sent seven mules but when they arrived we found that they had been most carefully trained and equipped.  In India they were in the charge of Lieutenant George Pulleyn, and the care and thought which had been spent upon them could not have been exceeded:  the equipment was also extremely good and well adapted to the conditions, while most of the improvements made by us as the result of a year’s experience were already foreseen and provided.  The mules themselves, by name Lal Khan, Gulab, Begum, Ranee, Abdullah, Pyaree and Khan Sahib, were beautiful animals.

Atkinson would soon have to start on his travels again.  Before we left Scott at the top of the Beardmore he gave him orders to take the two dog-teams South in the event of Meares having to return home, as seemed likely.  This was not meant in any way to be a relief journey.  Scott said that he was not relying upon the dogs; and that in view of the sledging in the following year, the dogs were not to be risked.  Although it was settled that some members of the expedition would stay, while others returned to New Zealand, Scott and several of his companions had left undecided until the last moment the question of whether they would themselves remain in the South for another year.  In the event of Scott deciding to return home the dog-teams might make the difference between catching or missing the ship.  I had discussed this question with Wilson more than once, and he was of opinion that the business affairs of the expedition demanded