Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/599

longitude 159° 15′ E. the Terra Nova passed close to an iceberg twenty-one geographical miles in length.

On February 2, in latitude 62° 10′ S., longitude 158° 15′ E., during thick weather, the ship was beset with icebergs and at slow speed steamed for six miles along the face of one huge berg. She was in a narrow channel out of which she could not work owing to the close grouping of detached icebergs which lay on the other hand.

This last season the ice conditions appeared to be the worst on record as far as the exterior ice was concerned, but close to Victoria Land we were never seriously hampered.

The biological, magnetic, and hydrographical work was continued on our homeward voyage, and on February 10, at 3 a.m., the ship reached Oamaru, a small port on the east coast of South Island, New Zealand. Here Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. Atkinson were landed with the Commander's despatch, which was sent to the Central News for simultaneous distribution throughout the world.

The Terra Nova remained at sea until Wednesday, February 12, when she returned to Lyttelton.

Her entry into the harbour was very different from the happy return we had so looked forward to.

With flags at half-mast we steamed into the port and were berthed alongside the Harbour Board shed by Captain Thorpe, the harbour-master. Thousands came to meet us and quietly notified their sympathy, and for many days afterwards we received messages of condolence from all parts of the world.