Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/42

notes of the auroræ, and did so much generally throughout the journey and with so much persistence notwithstanding the difficulties that beset us, that this Report must be considered as much his as mine. He has moreover read it all through and has materially helped me in making it complete. What I think of him and of Cherry-Garrard as companions for a sledge journey of this kind I have already made known to you, sir, in conversation. It would be impossible to say too much about either of them. I think their patience and persistence from beginning to end was what made five weeks of discomfort not only bearable but much more than pleasant. I have added this note since his revision of the Report.

Sunday, July 2, 1911.—Min. temp. for the night was −65·2°, and this notwithstanding a breeze of force 3 from the S.S.E. with slight drift. The temp. during the day ranged from −60° to −65° with calm, and light airs which again made us adjust nose nips. After their use this day and yesterday, however, they were unnecessary, and some of us never again used them.

A fog bank formed along the Promontory ridge during the afternoon, but rose, and later dispersed to the westward. We all noticed that our frozen fur mits thawed out on our hands while it lasted.

Sunday, July 2, 1911 (continued).—We were again relaying to-day by daylight from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and by moonlight instead of candle-lamp from 4.30 to 8 p.m. This was the first we had seen of the new moon. As it passed exactly behind the summit of Erebus it gave us an extraordinary picture of an eruption.