attention from the ship, but were not able to get it to light.  We finally managed to light a flare of carbide, and the ship came down to us in a blizzard, and all were safely aboard at 1 a.m. on March 4, 1909.  Before leaving the hut we jammed the window up with baulks of timber, to the best of our ability, in the storm and darkness.  The hut was used again by the Ross Sea Section of this last Expedition.  The snow was cleared out and extra stores were placed in it.  From reports I have received the Discovery Hut was in as good condition in 1917 as it was in 1902.

The stores placed there in 1902 are intact.  There are a few cases of extra provisions and oil in the hut, but no sleeping gear, or accommodation, nor stoves, and it must not be looked upon as anything else than a shelter and a most useful pied-à-terre for the start of any Southern journey.  No stores nor any equipment have been taken from it during either of my two Expeditions.

(2) Cape Royds hut

For several reasons, when I went into McMurdo Sound in 1908 in command of my own Expedition, known as the British Antarctic Expedition, after having failed to land on King Edward VII Land, I decided to build our hut at Cape Royds—­a small promontory twenty-three miles north of Hut Point.  Here the whole shore party lived in comfort through the winter of 1908.  When spring came stores were sledged to Hut Point, so that should the sea-ice break up early between these two places we might not be left in an awkward position.  After the return of the Southern Party we went direct north to civilization, so I never visited my hut again.  I had left, however, full instructions with Professor David as to the care of the hut, and before the whole Expedition left, the hut was put in order.  A letter was pinned in a conspicuous place inside, stating that there were sufficient provisions and equipment to last fifteen men for one year, indicating also the details of these provisions and the position of the coal store.  The stove was in good condition, and the letter ended with an invitation for any succeeding party to make what use they required of stores and hut.  The hut was then locked and the key nailed on the door in a conspicuous place.  From the report of Captain Scott’s last Expedition the hut was in good condition, and from a still later report from the Ross Sea side of this present Expedition, the hut was still intact.

(3) Cape Evans hut

This large and commodious hut was constructed by Captain Scott at Cape Evans on his last Expedition.  The party lived in it in comfort, and it was left well supplied with stores in the way of food and oil, and a certain amount of coal.  Several of the scientific staff of this present Expedition were ashore in it, when the ‘Aurora’, which was to have been the permanent winter quarters, broke adrift in May 1915, and went north with the ice.  The hut became the permanent living quarters for the ten marooned men, and thanks to the stores they were able to sustain life in comparative comfort, supplementing these stores from my hut at Cape Royds.  In January 1917, after I had rescued the survivors, I had the hut put in order and locked up.