cheering, pleasant hour—­in which reminiscences are exchanged by a company which has very literally had world-wide experience.  There is scarce a country under the sun which one or another of us has not travelled in, so diverse are our origins and occupations.  An hour or so after supper we tail off one by one, spread out our sleeping-bags, take off our shoes and creep into comfort, for our reindeer bags are really warm and comfortable now that they have had a chance of drying, and the hut retains some of the heat generated in it.  Thanks to the success of the blubber lamps and to a fair supply of candles, we can muster ample light to read for another hour or two, and so tucked up in our furs we study the social and political questions of the past decade.

We muster no less than sixteen.  Seven of us pretty well cover the floor of one wing of the L-shaped enclosure, four sleep in the other wing, which also holds the store, whilst the remaining five occupy the annexe and affect to find the colder temperature more salubrious.  Everyone can manage eight or nine hours’ sleep without a break, and not a few would have little difficulty in sleeping the clock round, which goes to show that our extremely simple life is an exceedingly healthy one, though with faces and hands blackened with smoke, appearances might not lead an outsider to suppose it.

Sunday, April 9, A.M.—­On Friday night it grew overcast and the wind went to the south.  During the whole of yesterday and last night it blew a moderate blizzard—­the temperature at highest +5 deg., a relatively small amount of drift.  On Friday night the ice in the Strait went out from a line meeting the shore 3/4 mile north of Hut Point.  A crack off Hut Point and curving to N.W. opened to about 15 or 20 feet, the opening continuing on the north side of the Point.  It is strange that the ice thus opened should have remained.

Ice cleared out to the north directly wind commenced—­it didn’t wait a single instant, showing that our journey over it earlier in the day was a very risky proceeding—­the uncertainty of these conditions is beyond words, but there shall be no more of this foolish venturing on young ice.  This decision seems to put off the return of the ponies to a comparatively late date.

Yesterday went to the second crater, Arrival Heights, hoping to see the condition of the northerly bays, but could see little or nothing owing to drift.  A white line dimly seen on the horizon seemed to indicate that the ice drifted out has not gone far.

Some skuas were seen yesterday, a very late date.  The seals disinclined to come on the ice; one can be seen at Cape Armitage this morning, but it is two or three days since there was one up in our Bay.  It will certainly be some time before the ponies can be got back.

Monday, April 10, P.M.—­Intended to make for Cape Evans this morning.  Called hands early, but when we were ready for departure after breakfast, the sky became more overcast and snow began to fall.  It continued off and on all day, only clearing as the sun set.  It would have been the worst condition possible for our attempt, as we could not have been more than 100 yards.