Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/134
'In conclusion I wish you all possible good luck, feeling assured that you will deserve it.
(Signed) R. Scott.
By 9 a.m. on the 27th we were off Cape Crozier and commenced our survey of the Barrier to see what changes had taken place since 1901.
About 9 a.m. on January 30 we passed an inlet opening N. by W., 1100 yards long, 250 wide, having perpendicular sides about 90 feet high.
This evening about seven we saw a large piece of the Barrier break off. We were at the time within 900 yards of the cliff, when we heard a noise like thunder and saw a cloud of spray rise up about half a mile ahead of us. The cloud of spray completely hid the Barrier at that place, and as this cleared we saw that a large piece had broken off, while débris of ice was forced out across our bows, making us alter course to avoid it.
January 31.—While steaming up a bay this afternoon another large piece of the Barrier broke away. It must have been five miles away, but we heard the noise like a peal of thunder and through our glasses saw a cloud of spray hanging over the place like a fog.
Soon after 3 p.m. we were up at the head of the bay, when we found new ice had formed. The Barrier here runs down nearly to the water's edge, and were it only farther to the eastward would not be a bad place to winter.
A number of Sibbald whales were blowing in the bay, and on the ice we saw several seals, and some Emperor