I came back with the impression that we should not find our winter walks so interesting as those at Hut Point, but I’m rapidly altering my opinion; we may miss the hill climbing here, but in every direction there is abundance of interest.  To-day I walked round the shores of the North Bay examining the kenyte cliffs and great masses of morainic material of the Barne Glacier, then on under the huge blue ice cliffs of the Glacier itself.  With the sunset lights, deep shadows, the black islands and white bergs it was all very beautiful.

Simpson and Bowers sent up a balloon to-day with a double thread and instrument attached; the line was checked at about 3 miles, and soon after the instrument was seen to disengage.  The balloon at first went north with a light southerly breeze till it reached 300 or 400 ft., then it turned to the south but did not travel rapidly; when 2 miles of thread had gone it seemed to be going north again or rising straight upward.

In the afternoon Simpson and Bowers went to recover their treasure, but somewhere south of Inaccessible Island they found the thread broken and the light was not good enough to continue the search.

The sides of the galley fire have caved in—­there should have been cheeks to prevent this; we got some fire clay cement to-day and plastered up the sides.  I hope this will get over the difficulty, but have some doubt.

Wednesday, April 26.—­Calm.  Went round Cape Evans—­remarkable effects of icicles on the ice foot, formed by spray of southerly gales.

Thursday, April 27.—­The fourth day in succession without wind, but overcast.  Light snow has fallen during the day—­to-night the wind comes from the north.

We should have our party back soon.  The temperature remains about -5 deg. and the ice should be getting thicker with rapidity.

Went round the bergs off Cape Evans—­they are very beautiful, especially one which is pierced to form a huge arch.  It will be interesting to climb around these monsters as the winter proceeds.

To-day I have organised a series of lectures for the winter; the people seem keen and it ought to be exceedingly interesting to discuss so many diverse subjects with experts.

We have an extraordinary diversity of talent and training in our people; it would be difficult to imagine a company composed of experiences which differed so completely.  We find one hut contains an experience of every country and every clime!  What an assemblage of motley knowledge!

Friday, April 28.—­Another comparatively calm day—­temp. -12 deg., clear sky.  Went to ice caves on glacier S. of Cape; these are really very wonderful.  Ponting took some photographs with long exposure and Wright got some very fine ice crystals.  The Glacier Tongue comes close around a high bluff headland of kenyte; it is much cracked and curiously composed of a broad wedge of white neve over blue ice.  The faults in the dust strata in these surfaces are very mysterious and should be instructive in the explanation of certain ice problems.