Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/286

while Wright was an expert in traversing snow-clad country, for he often spent his vacations from Toronto University surveying in the Canadian backwoods.

Next may I introduce Tryggve Gran, the youngest and yet the most travelled officer in the Expedition except our leader himself. Interested in sport, travel, music, literature, and languages, 'Trigger' never let a day pass without enlivening our march by some of his many adventures.

Of the two petty officers, Edgar Evans coached the first party, all of whom were new chums, in Antarctic sledging. He was one of the Discovery men and was an ideal sledge mate; while Forde, another giant of the navy, was sledge master on our Granite Harbour journey.

It is interesting to note that the six men represented six nationalities. Debenham and Wright come from Australia and Canada; Gran is a hardy Norseman; Forde is Irish; Evans came from Cardiff; while I was the only member born in England. If I have dwelt on this question of personnel, it is because it is so important a factor in exploration, and these few words help to explain the unbroken harmony which existed during our six months' sledging.

On January 26, 1911, Captain Scott handed to me the Sledging Orders governing our movements on the first Western Journey. They give a comprehensive account of what we actually carried out, and I therefore insert them here, omitting only a paragraph concerning Hut Point.

'Dear Taylor,

'I purpose to disembark a sledge-party of which you will have charge, on the sea ice of McMurdo Sound as near the Ferrar Glacier as possible.