Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/26

rate early in July. . . . It would at any time require that a party of three at least, with full camp equipment, should traverse about a hundred miles of the Barrier surface and should, by moonlight, cross over with rope and axe the immense pressure ridges which form a chaos of crevasses at Cape Crozier . . . which have taken a party as much as two hours of careful work to cross by daylight.'

Furthermore, it afforded an opportunity of obtaining an exact knowledge of the winter conditions on the Barrier at its western end, and throughout its dangers and difficulties Bowers kept a most remarkable meteorological record (given at the end of this volume), the substance of which is embodied in this Report. The three travellers also experimented with their sledging rations, each for some time taking a different proportion of pemmican and biscuit, the results of which were used in order to make up the rations for future use.

The journey was planned to last six weeks, with a stay of several days near the rookery, but was shortened by the extreme cold and consequent consumption of their store of fuel, and the tempest which drove the party back from Cape Crozier.

To the report written by Dr. Wilson various notes and details are added in square brackets from Mr. Cherry-Garrard's diary. This diary, be it said, was never written for publication. It was a private record, for private remembrance. It tells of incidents and impressions in their personal bearing, and so telling, incidentally preserves the fuller human colouring that