Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/473

had not as yet recovered from their trip to the Barrier in March. It was large and comparatively warm and much appreciated by the invalids.

The exceptional weather with repeated blizzards of great force during the whole of May kept both man and beast very much confined to the hut. This one felt more than the previous year, as besides being confined to the hut, when it was possible to get exercise we could only do so for a short distance on the Cape, whereas in the previous year the sea ice had extended for some 30 miles to the north of us. There was now open water to the south.

Crean and Keohane had already started mending most of the sleeping-bags, which were in sad need of repair. Luckily the ship had left us with a good supply of reindeer skin and there was plenty to go round and fill up the bare patches in the sleeping-bags.

The mule gear which had been supplied by the Indian Government showed the very greatest forethought in every detail. There were only very slight alterations to be made, more especially in the texture of the gear. The mules had been supplied with a form of canvas snow-goggles, for the ponies in the previous year had suffered badly from snow blindness. These goggles saved the mules from this amount of discomfort when they were on the Barrier. We also realised that owing to their small hoofs they would probably have to use snow-shoes. These had been supplied, and on trying the mules with them most of the animals after a very short time took to them quite naturally.

Debenham had been given charge of all photographic