Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/496

from the weight of snow upon it. This was continually removed and as continually was replaced by the next blizzard. During the remainder of this month several trips were made by the dog teams to Hut Point, taking down stores. The ponies also were given extra food so as to get them in better condition for their trip on the Barrier.

It was proposed after the previous year to make their allowance 11 lbs. per mule per day, a ration consisting of oil cake and oats in the proportion of two of oil cake to one of oats.

On September 26 we had a partial eclipse of the moon which we saw very clearly. The maximum shadow fell just before midnight, and we thought we should be unable to see it, for the moon rose behind clouds to the north of Erebus, but it cleared in time and Nelson was able to get his telescope fixed up. Our winter now was practically ended. With the return of light the health and cheerfulness of the party, which had been excellent throughout, improved still more, and we knew now that only a month intervened before we should be away on the Barrier. Scientific work had been carried on throughout the winter, although in certain branches this had been necessarily prohibited by the absence of sea ice.

On October 12 Debenham, Demetri, Cherry-Garrard, and I went down to Hut Point, and on October 14 took the two dog teams out to lay a depôt 12 miles south of Corner Camp. This consisted mainly of pony and dog food and was essential in order to relieve the ponies over the first four days of the journey, on which they would have to encounter heavy surfaces. On the return, as one