the help of a Lux lamp of 200 candle-power, which gave an excellent light and kept the indoor temperature at about 68deg.  F. throughout the winter.  The ventilation was very satisfactory, and we got sufficient fresh air.  The hut was directly connected with the house in which we had our workshop, larder, storeroom, and cellar, besides a single bathroom and observatory.  Thus we had everything within doors and easily got at, in case the weather should be so cold and stormy that we could not venture out.

The sun left us on April 22, and we did not see it again for four months.  We spent the winter in altering our whole equipment, which our depot journeys had shown to be too heavy and clumsy for the smooth barrier surface.  At the same time we carried out all the scientific work for which there was opportunity.  We made a number of surprising meteorological observations.  There was very little snow, in spite of there being open water in the neighbourhood.  We had expected to observe higher temperatures in the course of the winter, but the thermometer remained very low.  During five months temperatures were observed varying between -58deg. and -74deg.  F. We had the lowest (-74deg.  F.) on August 13; the weather was calm.  On August 1 we had -72deg.  F. with a wind of thirteen miles an hour.  The mean temperature for the year was -15deg.  F. We expected blizzard after blizzard, but had only two moderate storms.  We made many excellent observations of the aurora australis in all parts of the heavens.  Our bill of health was the best possible throughout the whole winter.  When the sun returned on August 24 it shone upon men who were healthy in mind and body, and ready to begin the task that lay before them.

We had brought the sledges the day before to the starting-point of the southern journey.  At the beginning of September the temperature rose, and it was decided to commence the journey.  On September 8 a party of eight men set out, with seven sledges and ninety dogs, provisioned for ninety days.  The surface was excellent, and the temperature not so bad as it might have been.  But on the following day we saw that we had started too early.  The temperature then fell, and remained for some days between -58deg. and -75deg.  F. Personally we did not suffer at all, as we had good fur clothing, but with the dogs it was another matter.  They grew lanker and lanker every day, and we soon saw that they would not be able to stand it in the long run.  At our depot in lat. 80deg. we agreed to turn back and await the arrival of spring.  After having stored our provisions, we returned to the hut.  Excepting the loss of a few dogs and one or two frostbitten heels, all was well.  It was not till the middle of October that the spring began in earnest.  Seals and birds were sighted.  The temperature remained steady, between -5deg. and -22deg.  F.

Meanwhile we had abandoned the original plan, by which all were to go to the south.  Five men were to do this, while three others made a trip to the east, to visit King Edward VII.  Land.  This trip did not form part of our programme, but as the English did not reach this land last summer, as had been their intention, we agreed that it would be best to undertake this journey in addition.