Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Eric Norman Webb 'Sledging Diary', 10 November 1912-11 January 1913
MLMSS 2895

E.N. Webb was chief Magnetician to the Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914. To obtain a magnetic survey of the area, a party consisting of Webb, Robert Bage and Frank Hurley sledged southward to the south magnetic polar area, 301 miles from the main base at Cape Denison.

CONTENTS

Describe the southern journey in company with Bage and Hurley to the south magnetic polar area, including i.a. account of daily progress, occupation of magnetic field stations, observational results and weather conditions.

[Page 10]
[Previous pages are covers or library information]

Sunday Novr 10th 1912

We’re off – In point of fact we left Hul Quarters at 12-30 finally and started off in a 35 mile breeze with good clear sun & no drift. Bic came ahead as far as 3¼ mile leaving Whetter & Hannam (asleep) behind. Pull up was warm work and Bob & Bic fd it fairly heavy. Bic had sore heel & was a Briton to come on. Jolly fine chap Bic & wd be a great addition to our party. However had a good hand shake at 3¼ mile and wished Bic all luck & success with the aero-sledge while he in return gave us all encouragement.

At the 3 ml the DI’s party of X & Nin, with two teams of dogs caught us, and the dog teams looked great towing those great loads (8 dogs to a sledge one with 700 odd lbs up). The dogs soon disappeared again from view while we towed on at our own pace. The grade lessened after Bic left us and with good surface we made good time.

Reached 5 ml at 4 pm (½ hr after dogs) and there had to spell while Cine photo & cinemato-graphed and Bob & I loaded food & kerosene & boiled up. By the time this was thro’, it was calmer than it has ever been known there, so we let out to make the 11 mile while weather laster. First 3 miles good surface & good time.

Shortly after rose a ridge & saw supporting party ahead at depot. At same halt picked up pair of mits (fur) that had been dropped by them. Immediately after ran into snow surface & for ¾ mi very heavy pulling. Relief for short distance & then ½ ml more snow which killed us, but at last pulled up to depot & fd supports in tent so we proceeded to clean out hole & turn in and 11-30 in.

1-30 while Cine in progress at 5 ml DI’s sledge meter got bit knocked about & he swore that Nin and X wd ruin his trip!!

No note has been made anywhere in reference to 9th – this must not imply that it was an empty day. It was drifting too heavly to start moving so we hung off & finished our preparations so that we were just comfortably ready this morning.
Incidentally fed up well on Penguin eggs which excellent.

Novr 11th – Monday

Out at 10-30 – Supports prepared hoosh & told us their story, Murphy funny as usual. They had heavy pull up tho’ their load is less by at least 50 lbs.

Started from five mile at 9 and didn’t arrive at depot till 17 hrs. We afterwards fd today that this was what might be expected. Packed up & clear’d 11 mile in light drift at a few minutes to 14 hrs. All a bit tired but better to be getting ahead despite an overcast & threatening sky. Our team started off in the lead & we fd it moderate going against a 55 mile breeze & with a bit of sting in the drift. Surface rese ice & fair.

At first halt (about ¼ mile) the second team was labouring 100 yds astern and poor old Murphy simply walking along with a practically slack rope, the others do their best but they are not hefty or weighty. The pathetic part is that he thinks he is quite doing his share. We rearranged things after the 1st halt

[Page 11]

and Cine toggled in with Joe & Johnny while Murph came alongside me. He then fully understood the state of affairs with supports. It was virtually a 2 man job after that tho M sucked up a lot.

The surface was very solid and the pulling just all iced slick in about 200 yd fleets. To add to general difficulties the drift increased and finally it came on to snow thickly. The neve ice changed to sashugi of all sizes from a few inches to several feet. Snow increasing all ways we tho’t best to camp as soon as good snow position.

Stopped on fair surface with very thick snow. Pitched japara tent first & got good set up. Joe then boiled up while we settled on a smaller tent which reduced + & + in dimensions as snowed up. Temp warm at 0 or thereabouts & quite comfortable inside.

Tuesday Novr 12th 1912

Moderate night wind up to about 75 after midnt but moderated again to 55 or so. Drift decreasing. Not sleep too well. Stack all three head into wind with me in middle. Tent wacked me so much that I got a rotten head & I at last end for ended & slept all night with head in the door – Very cramped tho’ & not nearly so much room as in a japara tent. A few holes worked into this light fabric already.

Boil up first about midday when all got dressed & obeyed calls of nature. Since when Cine has kept us amused with peculiar noises etc, and all have been singing all sorts. Lately Bob & Cine have sewn up the tent while I write. Weather seems to be moderating somewhat and we hope to move tomorrow. Surface seems all the same about here & is probably the true plateau surface. Neve ice beneath with sashugi of all sizes on top. The sashugi are all beaten hard and it is all one can do to stand at all in finnesko.

I’d like to see some of our finnesko experts pulling their whack on this surface! It is jolly rough pulling thro the neve ice is not bad. It’s quite a relief to be out here clear of the boss & other worries. Other pasty have been deep in "Virginian". We have had a few of extracts & some color photography with Cine.
Drift continues and if anything is now increasing with the wind – Temp still high at +9. Sleeping bags somewhat damp in places but nothing to write home about. Have taken snow off outside of tent walls & shd have more room tonight but this tent pitches rottenly. Poles in head are too tight.

Wednesday Novr 13th 1912

Dirty weather at 13½ ml camp after rowdy night. However out at 7 to do what we cd. Fair devil of surface and tough pulling. Light to moderate drift & 30 to 40 mil wind. Had to swap Cine for Murph at first halt as

[Page 12]

supports a long way behind tho’ they have bet 50 & 100 lbs less wt.

Bob & I had virtually to pull one sledge while Cine did as much as the other two on the second. J.H. does his best but Laseron talks a lot and carries a slack rope half the time. First 2½ mls were very heavy. Neve ice with sashugi & soft snow – One capsize about 12.30 when had cold lunch under lee of sledge – very comfortless. Thirst a demon & all three of us pecking ice all day but not too satisfactory. Temps high & sweat like pigs.

Pulled in about 5.30 when we had enough. Drank gallons old cocoa from amiulus then tea, hoosh & cocoa & a peck after. Still drifting. Cine took two ½ plates of sunset exhibiting great enthusing. All ready for bag.

Thurs Novr 14th 1912

Stuck in bag all day with 75 mph & thick drift outside – tent fir to go to pieces at any moment – Flapping & cracking like pistols – Not a few holes. Perked about midday – boiled up about 6 – Took 4 hrs to feed & bag. Mils as hard as tho’ cut from stone – Resorted to pass. Turned in hoping for better in morn.

Friday Novr 15th

Same thing again except that wind ran to about 80 in night & temp going down – below zero. Tent knocked a few more holes in. perked again about 12 – Boys wet & being covered with snow thro’ holes. Got out about 4 & boiled up. Spent hours mending tent – No lacks – Supports taking it easy & reading. Boiled up felt sick – better – Drift moderated at last at 11 – more wing tho’. Hope for best. Had ano then boil up & turning in – rotten -.

Saturday Novr 16th 1912

Min -16.0 for night – wind continued to early morn when eased down to mild 60. Drift down to light surface – Out at 8.45 and moving round as quickly as low temp wind & drift wd permit it took nearly 3 hrs to get about ready to move off; certainly put up thermograph and did one or two other jobs.

Supports very slow – another hour till they were ready & then we had to help them out. Murphy came round looking as cadaverous as a monk after a 40 days fast & told us they only had so many (2) boils up & some perks for two days. He certainly looked it.

Off at last in moderate breeze having dumped 100lbs & theming off support sledge. They have pulled their own sledge today & have just managed to keep up with us.

[Page 13]
Johnny H does most of their hauling – while M does virtually none at all. Left food bay (100) covered with black bunting at 19 ml which fairly conspicuous.

Calmed off gradually during day to calm at 6 pm – Fair surface but not fast travelling. Cine took few photos – surface & cirrus cloud. Lunch soon after four & on again at 5.30 till 19.20 when very heavy sky which had come up during lunch began to drop sago snow.

Now in bag – 22.30 with hardly a tent flap & numerous suggestions for relieving the tension on the ears. Real Cape Royds weather & if it wd but last! We have only made something over 5 mls today but late start & must hit out early in morn. A few capsizes each – Surface heavily sashuged some up to 2½ or 3 feet. Snow has held off & we regret rather that not further on but think judgment sound never the less.

Joy joy joy to be in a tent without a flip flap flap flap!!

Sunday Novr 17th 1912

Poor morning – light wind & drift – out & away by 10 – Excessively hot in burberrys but drift – Short spells to start. Hard going with surface invisible under O.C. sky – falling into sashugi without knowing whether inches or feet deep. Lunch at 2 after 4 mls & drift clearing – On ml or so when I noticed two tins kero – gone from support sledge – Had had several capsizes & off in one of these. M & Laseron went back to look for them while we started to relay on – Didn’t dare go far lest they shd miss us – G real dashing of our hopes of an 8 or ten mile run but have to be put up with – Took dec & az shots & built up depot. Got kero – in 10.30 out early-

Monday Novr 18th 1912

Beautiful quiet night & as pleasant a morning – Wind light from SSE. Then in morning at – 8.0. Out at 6.15 after poor sleep all rd. away soon afte 9. Supports away first & got good lead on taking some catching. Mast & sledge was Christmas tree with clothes of every description – Our first real chance & we made the most of it.

After some ¾ ml the mast gave way in some heavy sashugi (a rather a stay broke) & let the whole down. We had to go easier on it then & put more on sledge. Day has been brilliant – our best so far – We waltzed along in fleeces and before the day was out opened every trapdoor – something like weather – surface has been heavy all day – soft snow

[Page 14]

over a + or - hard bottom – For first few mls there were a good many heavy sashugi but after lunch this tailed off into very low ones with a lot of loose snow. Supports bucked up a lot today & keep us moving.

Q at noon and lunch after when Cine took general photo – Q about 67 30 at 34 mls. Teaagain at 40 mls 6 oclock & on again nearly 2 mls to camp when going drive into a hollow. Now in bag at 10.30. Light aims from NW during afternoon & Alt Cu cloud worked up from same drican sunburst – 41¾ mls – dead calm almost again now. Not much evidence of wind up here –

Tuesday 19th Novr 1912

Lovely day – marching all day with very little on – give temp of about 60 F – bad sunburst – goggles all – but M & Bob snow blind. – Dip at midday 48 mls – 88 44!! Decr 12° so we’re not far off. heavy surface but willing going – looks & interesting ahead – ups & downs somewhat. All linsed – Fearful thirst all dry & never seem to get enough to drink – Eyes a trifle sore – Doctored Bob. Camped at 54 miles –

Wednesday 20th Novr 1912

Light surface drift from SW 20 mph – Very heavy going for 4 mls – soft surface as yesterday with occasional hard patches – Supports had heavy pulling with Murphy blind & Laseron pretty done – Johnny very staunch – Lunch at 58¾ Have put up moulds of snow at nearly all stops camps and some have black bunting attached. Surface improved this afternoon & drift & wind went down.

Laseron caved in completely at 62 mls & now camped at 63½ - Supports leave doing after tomorrow & we must make higher land for depot tomorrow. Eyes sore.

Thursday Novr 21st 1912

"Joe" better this morning – Moved out late – wind 25 to 30 ahead & light drift which very annoying – burberry touch & started in finnesks [finnesko] but after 2 mls during which go latitude, surface changed to heavier sashugi and hard polished snow. Stopped for lunch almosr on top of stiff rise which took a deal of towing into; Bob & I went on to inspect and we pulled on then about 300 yds, to spot where decided to make depot (at 67½ mls) # 67° 56.6 9 hrs 31 min 57.4 sec.

Soon hard at it Bob fit by depot flag – others build mount & erecting tents etc. Fine mound up (10ft) & mast with flag to be finished – stays lightened in morning. Got 8 shots ford & 8 alt ag and Dec before hoosh. Eyes a bit sore & after a dose from Cine turned into bag about 11-30.

[Page 15]

Friday Novr 22nd 1912

Out late at 9-10 an almost all over sky. Light wind increasing from S to SE. Overcast a little later with very light snow. Morning spent sorting out things to be left behind to save wt. Depot flag finished off & computations of d. etc effected – Took dips obs this afternoon and fd -87&dec; 59’ which encouraging. Surface drift & 50 mls wind in afternoon.

Support left about 6-30 to 7 pm with a feather wt sledge & fair wind. We are now on our own, hoping for fair weather to get a fair start tomorrow – Eyes all better but lips & noses sore. Cine very insistent on the fine day tomorrow.

Birthday greetings for Doris this being I suppose 17th natal day. Well heads to bag & away away away Crow! 7 = 0.70 5(?)

Sat Novr 23rd 1912

Still at Southern Cross Depot – awoke to heavy wind (75 mls) and thick drift – so stayed in bag sleeping & dreaming till 3 o’clock when we got out and made tea and ate lunch – Had bacon ration in honor of my birthday - & the others had cigars which I had biol for them. Talked & odd jobbed for several hours and recounted some of our weird dreams and then prepared hoosh putting in the remdr of bacon ration in & turning out a very tasty hoosh.

Weather moderating slowly. Have now everything ready for moving off which hope to do early (3 am). Wind v and flag looks a "treat". Eyes better –

Sunday Novr 24th 1912

Another filthy day – 55 mph & drift but can’t afford to lie up any longer so got to it and away by noon. Steered S40E and crossed large sashugi nearly all the way – All up-hill going & half into wind – The most solid 8¾ miles of fighting I have done – Wind averaged 50 thro day and half ones energy went towards keeping straight and the other half towing – Took ½ hr to pitch tent (we still have light one) and then 1½ hrs to erect 5 foot breakwind – Now blowing 70 mls per hr but we are quite smug – 11-30 now & all tired but in spirits. Very thirsty in spite of 2 cups of cocoa.

Monday Novr 25th 1912

Still blowing hard again this morning so no move – put in time getting sleeping bags & gear out to dry as there

[Page 16]

83¾ mls

was no drift. Repaired various things & boiled hypso. Cine photographed & incidentally set camera which had been working very badly – to rights. While he was out our first signs of native life appeared in the form of two snow petrels.

Cine snapped them and they looked very pretty tripping & fluffering along the snow, their black beaks eyes & legs twinkling as they glided along. We prepared a hook on line to catch them but they vere away before we cd execute one nefarious fell design deed.

We spent several hours each repairing the tent & it is much sounder now. Bob struck one mast and lashed it along side – giving the sledge much less wintage [?].

Wind began to abate late in afternoon & we lunched about four, struck camp & away about 5-30 [17-30] – Heavily overcast and poor light making steering difficult. Uphill going but not so stiff as yesterday & wind down to a mild 25 or 30. Surface much smoother & improved as we proceeded. We marched along in some half hour fleets doing good rime with Bob in the lead and by 10 [22-00] had covered 7½ mls which is not bad in one spell with out a stop for food.

Surface is remarkable for the way in which it changes. In a mile we move over absolutely different classes of sashugi one mile shewing high wind in heavily ramped sashugi, the next much less wind with smaller & polished sashugi. On the whole the surface was excellent. The country round is very interesting. We are now across a big valley some 30 to 40 mls across & in this valley we apparently struck an area of very light and variable winds while we have now got back into one old timer sorts.

However, today pamerd [?] out more encouraging than we had expected – Down in this valley we see numerous snow ramp formations and some which are well down to N of us are very big heaps apparently to 15 or 20 feet high – They make good marks and we must visit them if opportunity offers on return. Away to NE there appears a bluff headland with what look like crevasses on its E extremity – This will probably be 40 mls away. Due E there is much lowland and there have been great cloud effects there all day.

Now after midnight & about to toggle down – Have built

[Page 17]

4 ft breakwind & shd be very snug. Lovely sunset & sun now rising again – Not more than 1° below horizon at midnight. Will shortly have mdnt sun.

We have not yet got over our unquenchable thirst & whether they had such thirsts on other expeds I know not but as far as I can remember it was always hunger that was so hard on them. We have drunk quarts & yet have a thirst – A Horlick’s Milk tin carried behind the sledge with the remains of lunch tea is a great help.

Everybody’s (particularly Cine’s) finnesko are moulting & give much annoyance. Cine has taken to sleeping in socks only.

Tuesday Novr 26th 1912

Heavily overcast – out at 10 am but between all sorts not clear till 1-30 which is a disgrace to any self-respecting sledge team – We must cut it down – wind down to 25 or 30 and almost calm later – Sky clearing and sun thro’ late in afternoon. Good surface & good going tho’ surface very difficult to see at first – lunch at 5 pm when I got a dec -50° (W) & dip -88 20 both rough but indicative.

Load began to tell on us at 9 pm but we battled on to 10-20 when we had 96 miles up & 12¼ for the day – Surface much harder here & more slippery tho’ we finished the second half of the march in finnesko without crampons.

Now very snug with a mild breeze while the sun is just rising at 12-30. With luck we shd reach treble figures tomorrow & start pretty on the pace – We aim at 400 miles out and if we manage that ie will be a worthy feat – We are rising the area of max dips alright & shd in another week be fairly close.

Wednesday Novr 27th 1912

Blowing like the devil! – Out at 11-30 and by bustling manage to prepare for departure by 10 minutes to 2. Wind 60 when we pulled out making the heaviest going yet. Making a course S40E the S wind got us pair ½ abeam and one seldom knew whether he was putting most energy into pulling or propping up against the wind – After much havail have made a little over 4 miles but have at least put the 100 up.

At last camp the ring holding the poles of tent together (1/8 piano steel wire) gave way so we had

[Page 18]

to erect a fairly solid breakwind before pitching. Surface soft and rotten & much pitted but fair for sledge – Very light drift just enough to make things uncomfortable. Temp moderate at about +10.0. Pitched about 6 and now fairly snug – Started on first half bay of our 6 weeks which is to take us back to Southern Cross depot – This wind is very annoying and 4 miles in it are about equal to 4 times that when moderately calm – However we’ve got the first 100 up (and that’s far the most) and must now possess ourselves in patience.

Thursday Novr 28th 1912

More wind & no sign of life till noon – Discussion then decided to wait over & take magnetic obs unless weather cleared – Had lunch and then I proceeded to observe after the others had cleared things – Bob meanwhile dug a snow shaft & got a temp grad. He got down 8 feet.

Cine meanwhile recorded for me – The meridian is most exasperating having now swung round to some degrees E of N – The dip pans out at about 88 52 – The station looks as tho’ it were disturbed. Wind eased to about 40 during afternoon – Very mild ar +10 –

Didn’t sleep well last night and feel lazy & sleepy. Must work up obs & then turn in.

Friday Novr 29th 1912

Still blowing 50 to 60 mls – no stop now – Out 8-30 and moving round – got hoosh thro’ & the prepared for latitude shop – Took Q shots & then Dec & then got clear about 1-30 – Dec +29 16 which remarkable after all westerly ones – Steered into eye of wind with Bob in lead – Very heavy & steady pulling but easier that way than across wind – It felt about ? pushing agst wind & ? on tow rope – excellent surface – but wind wd anon buffet one on the side of head and cause a very decided stagger in spite of posture bent heavily into sledge belt.

Broke stut[?] a hole & breakwind at 105½ mls to get time shot and boil lunch – Tea helps one a lot and we got along again very well after starting at 7 up a steep slope to 109 mls 200 yds.

First surface today was much same as last but much more of hard pitted snow sashugi and less of the smooth hard type. When ascending the rise after lunch we came on a hard and coarsely crysne [?] surface were hard pitted sashugi ramped up in groups. The crystals in the surface were average least ?" diam.

We must have risen at least 400 feet today – Hypsobals 205.6

[Page 19]

The top looks very desolate & we are not there yet. Stopped at 10 pm to camp & put up s breakwind 6 feet high & got into hoosh in an hour. The midnight sun (our first) has been shining on the tent now for an hour & Cine is boggled down. Bob & I have been writing up obs. The wind takes it out of one.

Saturday Novr 30th 1912

Still blowing harder than ever – Took approx. Dec & dip at 104 mls camp D = -32° dip -88° 47’ so where the polar area is heaven knows.

We got away about 2 pm and plugged into a breeze of 60 odd mls per hr. The process may be summed up in "uphill going, rotten surface, domnable wind".

The surface was bumpy with rotten top & sledge worked about & stuck continually. By 5 when we were ready for lunch we had made just over four miles and were pretty tired. Started as yesterday to dig a hole & put up a breakwind so as to boil the primus as tent must be saved when we fd the theo legs & ice axe missing – Nothing for it but to lunch & then look for them. Our hole was about 2’6" deep & sledge made up 2’6" breakwind and in this underneath the tent floor-cloth we had our hot lunch & appreciated the tea to last drop.

Lots then decided that Bob & Cine shd trackback for the delinquent articles while I built a breakwind & prepare for pitching. They had a long trip back for 2½ mls finding the theo legs at 1½ & ice axe further. They fd it very stiff walking back into the wind & are agreed that ? effort on low rope & ? for wind is a pair proportion.

I meanwhile erected 6’ breakwind & prepared everything as far as poss. We are now very snug – our tent with a back. Draught blowing out the wrong side of the tent while Cine cajoles & threatens the ‘Devil’ and ‘Acolus’ to stop their blast. Bob is working up a time slot & I must assist. Cine is attending to his crampons while I have a few stitches wanting in my sledge harness.

Sunday Decr 1st, 1912

Whether Cine’s prayers or the new month did it I can’t say but conditions improved this morning. By the time we started at 2 pm the wind was down to 40 & this tailed off later to 20 Dec at camp gave -25° & Dip 88 44 – up-hill going over rough country today – Quite a field day – Great Ci lu radiant & lovely

[Page 20]

cloud effects generally and that on a day when we are enjoying them. The relief from the wind was exhilarating.

Lunched at 118¾ mls & afterwards went on in finnesko. Had been all day without burbery pants & only pyjama pants. Finnesko were a bit slippery but a treat after the crampons. At lunch camp we picked out some big crevasses to W and a mound with huge snow ramps on this side. We are now making towards it and are camped at 123 mls 750 yds.

A shua (first so far) visited us this evening & when we attempted to catch it made off due S. Feel much more satisfactory tonight tho the pump is low (-1.0 at 11-45)

Monday Decr 2nd 1912

Very good weather today with clear sky & light 25 to 20 (13.2¼) mls wind from S by E. going mostly uphill and over very rough Sashayi – Dec before leaving gave -60° & Dip -88 35.

Qui mounds or ramps were nearly lost beneath a ridge ahead and when we got over this arrived at bot of valley at 4.30 to 5 we were all groggy in the legs. (It had been necessary to wear crampons) so stopped for lunch pitching camp under some giant sashugi some 3 to 4 ft high & in the bot of the valley.

Cine afterwards photographed these with the sledge making "heavy weather" over them. All better after lunch & made the opp ridge in good style and at last rose over ramps right ahead – The place looked great & alluring appearing as huge snow mounds with ridges & crevasses between.

We are now camped at 132¼ mls under one of these mounds. The whole ridge is apparently neve ice and the mounds are really ice mounds – The ridge itself must be several hundred feet high and one peak of a mound must be 2 to 3 hundred. The whole place is exceedingly weird to be fd large inconformity [irregularity] below. We shall inspect tomorrow – All tired & not entirely satisfied with our ration.

Bob has been having a great time with "Hyppie" who has twice conflagrated & several times gave clean out. At last she boiled at 203.3°: (conceted).

Tuesday Decr 3rd 1912

Rose to fine clear day & prepared to explore our find. The modules were not the huge things they had looked in heavy shadow but were nevertheless well worthy our inspection – They were for the most part large masses of neve half ice half snow ramped

[Page 21]
4° = 1 in 15 [therefore] 1000 yds give 3000 ft = 200’
                                                     15

[Page 22]

up for from 20’ to 80 ft over huge crevasses. Moved off straight upgrade of near 4° for 1000 yards – very stiff pull & over several 30 ft crevasses all snow bridges with hard snow – Bottomed one crevasse with a line at 90 ft (Dec at camp -60° Dip 88 30).

Then left sledge & went exploring & photographing on alpine rope. Came on one crevasse 30 feet wide and open as chasm for 30 ft deep – Others not quite as deep – Hundreds of huge crevasses snow covered up to 100 feet across. The whole place for several square miles is a mosaic of the huge covered cracks nobody went right thro’ but several times to waist – Topped the rise over which this icy flow takes place &: cd see 15 to 20 mls all rd.

Very stiff rough & risky work getting sledge over. Cleared main area at 4 pm & lunched shortly after. Changed course then to S45E and had very rough march across heavy sashugi for 6 mls. Sledge run easily & we got along excellently in frimesko but how that sledge stands the racked is surprising. I guess it gets the roughest passage that has been registered from Antarctica so far.

The fact that every part is lashed & mostly with a flexible lashing I think alone makes it capable of the handling. The whole thing is as sinuous as a snake but it’s a wonder it doesn’t break its back sometimes.

Now comfortably camped (wind light) at 140¼ mls out.

Wednesday Decr 4th 1912

Another fine day! Out at 10 to overcast sky but this soon evaporated & by 2 pm it was quite bright – Dec at camp gave -63 & dip disappointing at -88 29.5.

Made 10 mls by meter today on average course of S50E but such a dog’s hind legged course & such rottenly rough going that ¼ ml at least must be docked from that for a haverse.

There has not been ¼ ml of fair going the whole way. I had the pleasure (?) of leading and to find a track over sastrugi when a sledge might possibly run without breaking its back was a task indeed. Not only did one have to get a slidable track but to avoid slipping over a constant watch on footing was imperative and finally in addition to all and in spite of numerous large & erratic deviations to avoid impossible pieces, one had to maintain some sort of a course.

We were doing very well with 3½ mls up when it was fd that the sheath knife was missing. As I had used it for the run compass before the assumption was that it had been dropped off. I tracked back 2¼ mls but cdn’t see it and on return learned that it had been fd in the fold of the tent. I was

[Page 23]

considerably relieved for altho’ not an essential the sheath knife is exceedingly handy. The others had meanwhile effected several repairs and prepared lunch which tasted very good.

After lunch the track became even worse. Hard knife edge sashugi everywhere and all at least 6" & mostly 1 foot to 18" deep. As we were crossing these pretty squarely the sharp edges cut into the instep so as to make it almost sore. However we have just put 150¼ mls run up and consistently conditions that’s not so bad.

We are camped among some very hard and ugly looking sashugi now standing up by themselves to a height of 2½ feet. They have a regular dreadnought shape & appearance. It is wonderfully calm without and the low sun in the south and light Ci Cu overhead, combined with the golden tips & deep shadows pan sashugi make a fine picture, Bob & Cine stayed out some minutes admiring the landscape and cd scarcely believe that temp was -4.0F. Q = 68 58.4 DR.

As an indication of the surface, in the last 4 mls of the run when we did pitch we had to level the surface first.

Thursday Decr 5th 1912

A beautiful day today! With all its vagaries of trials & tribulations this country has some compensation.

Some wind (20) when we got out but this dropped about 2. Dec at camp +22° dip 89° 08’ but we stick to our course of S45E. Surface tho’ poor was an improvement on yesterday & we covered over 6 mls before the lunch halt about 4-30. It was then perfect with 5 mls of wind & a clear sky. Dec here was +30° & -89° 02.5. still we held on S45E as I felt sure the polar area is in this direction.

Bob started on construction of a helmet from a food tank during lunch. Surface just after lunch was very good but got worse after 2 mls. About 8 a light nimbus cloud came over from E and we got a shower of small snow crystals with a ring round the sun and various other extraordinary cloud sun & metrological effects.

Putting up our breakwind by Cine & I was a bit of a fag tonight after 12 mls but it serves many useful purposes. It is regularly used as an observatory and round-house. Tonight it is perfectly calm & the sky is overcast with nimbus still. Took a dec & dip to see what course shd be tomorrow & fd Dec )° and dip -89° 11" so it is coming back to what was expected and is encouraging.

Camp is 162 mls over now & we are over 69th parl

[Page 24]

Dec 5th

so we are getting on. I9t is my hope that we may reach a region of Max dip before we drop one final depot & that means at the present rate within 60 mls which however I think possible. This is a remarkable country anyhow!

Talk of ups & downs why we get them all in one day. Varieties of surface from good to bad & worse. Dec changing from by 30 & more degrees & dip by 10 minutes – Then two days ago of a Dec changed by 90° & dip by 30’ or more in about 5 mls & yet Mawson made a bee line for the magnetic pole!!! But I think with all this dodging we’ll run the Magnetic area to earth yet!

Friday Decr 6th 1912

Once more the capricious plateau has got home on us. Today has been one of our worst as yesterday was one of our best. Tho’ the wind was light it carried along a very fair drift and more over it came from S40E which was dead ahead. The sky was entirely overcast and this meant that the surface was practically invisible and snow goggles were almost incessantly frosted up so that the glasses had to be abandoned.

The loose snow on the surface made heavy pulling and not being able to see our footways we sprawled & floundered a lot. Numerous times we fd ourselves without foothold & the sledge refused to budge then having to be manhandled. Altogether it was not only one of the most tiring days physically but the nerve racking can only be compared with a skipper making a bad coast in a thick fog – we very literally don’t know where we are! Cine leading had no childs [indecipherable] of it and now has somewhat sore eyes as a result. Particles of drift kept beating into ones face and eyes got nothing.

However we have made 10 mls & hard won the area. Mileage 172½ - The rottenest part is that we are all drift wet now and with weather likely to persist, but little chance of drying out. But every lane has a turning and we’ve had better shift than we ever tho’t of, so here’s to bag –

Saturday Decr 7th 1912

The iron plateau has not yet deigned to smile on us again yet. The morning shewed it still overcast with less drift certainly but worse light than yesterday. Dec about -30° & Dip 89 07 but as no sun & drift all time, both very approx. We got clear as best we cd at about 12.30 and stumbled & slipped along (I led) knowing that we were going ahead but how or where it was

[Page 25]
nigh impossible to say.

I tried crampons but they broke thro’ the crust making things heavier still & giving very little better footing. We hauled on for 2½ hrs every now & then getting hung up in a bunch of sashugi 2½’ to 3’ high where it took us all our time to move the sledge man handling it. It was snowing at times & drifting always so that my eyes stung under the influence.

As for picking a track it was utterly impossible there was no more telling illustration of the fact that black & white are one – the one total absorbtion the other total reflection. After 2½ hrs when we had been struck up ½ doz times we pulled in and camped for lunch.

After lunch I took dip Circle obs lasting to nearly 8 pm. Dip 89° 09’ which again on an apparently undistinber station is encouraging. It was no fun moving round the instrument on one’s knees which were soon wet thro’ screwing into awkward positions & at the same time holding one’s breath. The inst continually tended to post up and was just about unworkable when I finished. I was jolly glad to get thro’.

Cine recorded most while Bob put up a breakwind & Bob finished recdy. Getting needles in & out in the drift was not so bad. Have now horshed & are preparing to get down into bag. Of course things are wetter than ever but the temp is high and we keep well warm. Must compute before turning in.

Sunday Decr 8th 1912

This morning for us undergoing a still further new experience – When I got my head out of sleeping bag the tent seemed to have contracted to about ? normal size. At head and feet was packed hard against the bag with snow and Cine & Bob were so solid wedged that they cdn’t move till I got out of bag. I dressed & got outside to clear the snow and then they dressed. It took a good hour’s shovelling to clear the tent properly – Bob’s big breakwind had provided too much lee.

Without it was drifting with a fall which made the surface less visible than ever. We decided that it was not worth going or trying to go on so prepared to carry out a quick run on the declinometer. This entailed shifting all camp gear & setting up D.C. in the tent while we dig a snow hole for our present use. This proceeded in the weather. I at same time keeping up about ½ hourly readings.

[Page 26]

About 5 we lunched in one hole which had progressed but fairly & then finished it after. Got gear in at 11 pm. Decided to leave a gap between 12 & 4 when Bob was to get out. Cold, wet, & damp & generally rotten.

Monday Decr 9th 1912

I called Bob at 4.15 and he had a great tussle of nearly an hour with his burberrys which were as hard as boards. However like a Bieton he stuck to it and got the first read soon after five. Cine took up the running after 7 and I carried on from 10 – We had a small boil up about 7 and it was very acceptable. All had felt cold during the early night and Cine having turned in after 10-30 proclaimed the hole (at lunch) a vault.

I recommended returning to the tent when the obs was over and tho’ this meant that Bob & Cine both had to get into burberrys (½ to an hour freezing job) Cine at any rate was a good seconder (Dec -31°). We are now comfortable in the tent and hoosh is in progress, Bob darns while Cine cooks & I take it easy in bag.

The weather has improved & clouds have all day been very slowly breaking so we decided to wait over till early tomorrow. The surface is heavy with the late snow but the worst can be dodged when there is sufficient light.

It is blowing 40 mls now as well so I think we are quite justified. I felt when I had finished that I had had enough for one day. We are all congratulating ourselves on having removed from the refrigerator, the walls & floor of the hole are probably at some degrees below 0° while the air is about 1.5 to +10. Hope we can get on tomorrow. (Sarcophagus?)

Tuesday December 10th 1912

Great production of songs last evening and it was fairly late when we got to sleep.

This morning still dirty weather blowing hard & drifting in early morning. No one out till 10-15 but all moving then & prepared to move off. The sledge was half buried under a 4 foot snow ramp and there was any quantity of snow about. We had to haul the sledge out over a ramp on the opp side of the tent and load it afterwards.

We got clear about 1-30 and started to haul in finnesko – After 12 minutes we had gone nearly 150 yds and every few yards had to hand haul the sledge so took to crampons. With these on we managed to keep moving but it was exceedingly hard work ploughing the soft snow which lay everywhere. In places leads of hard snow sashugi cd be found and after a while we managed to strike about half and half.

Lunched after 3¼ mls and then on afterwards for a total of 7 mls bringing our mileage up to 181¾. The last fleet was very heavy.

[Page 27]

[Words to songs]

We use some goggles that cost quite a lot
Out of them Burb’ys must have made a fair pot
They’re like a mask to protect half the face
While a whalish round eyepiece each side does the grace
With yellow glass they are glazed to darken the snow
And one sees ad left and ad right don-cher – know
(But once yer tris to look straight on the hail)
(You finds that they’re ogles more befitting a snail)

Chorus
Tramp Tramp hamp Great Scott! was that a snow ramp
Tramp Tramp hamp These goggles nearly screw my poor blind eyes out
Damp damp damp my eyes are running like a tank
For snow blind I am & I don’t care a damn
Till I get some dropes at camp camp camp.

Just a few items on which we might save weight
Of Kero’ power and hypso we muched relate
The latter tho’ packed in a case of horsehide
Might well in a small calico bag be tied
Shaps & instrument cases if made inproportion
Might well save weight for any but Mawson

Chorus
Bags Bags Bags Oh! Dam these small bags
Bags bags bags These ties bust every time I he them
Bags bags bags They’re surely made of rags
Anf tho’ you save a little weight I wd there just like to state
It fags fags fags.

[Page 28]

These last four days so played up with our time and the surface that one hopes of making 400 miles out are entirely dashed. If we manage 300 mls out we shall be doing pretty well now. This weather not only means reduced time for travelling but has warned us to leave good margin for finding depots and also not to calculate on too big a pace going home. However we shall do what we can and as we are all strong & willing I don’t think any slur can be cast on our performance.

When we started today I tho’t 3 mls wd be a good tally and it took some grind to put up 7. Cine has been keeping himself & us amused with many coon and other songs this evening.

During our march after lunch we passed a large number of very ugly nosed sashugi of enormous size with snouts underent & poking right out into the wind. One which Cine photographed (after much trouble with film packs & camera) was 10 yds long 4 ft high & 6 feet broad with a snout 4 ft broad & 18" deep butting up into the wind. It looked like a huge whale just coming out of the water.

Wednesday Decr 11th 1912

A fair day today – Started with fair amt of wind and drift but not so bad as to entirely prevent putting sleeping bags out. They were very wet. All had poor sleep with wet bags last night – Got away at 1-30 in crampons and fd it very heavy pulling. Stiff and steady rise with wind against us. Later on removing crampons & burberry pants made better pace putting up 4 mls by lunch.

Finished up tonight at 190½ mls 8¾ of very solid hauling. Passed numerous groups of very large sashugi again as hard as a badger’s back and apparently very old. One patch 4 chns square was 6 feet at least above the average surfaces while individual sastnigi were 3’6" to 4’ high. There must be some violent winds here at some times – Now it is drifting again and we have a heavy day on tomorrow when we hope to finish 200 mls and set up our last depot.

Thursday Decr 12th 1912

199 mls 1000 yds

Have arrived at an excellent place for our depot in fine weather & improved surface – Blowing and drifting this morning but we got away from camp soon after noon Dec -36° 88 59.

Up to lunch time we met the same heart breaking and back-breaking surface as yesterday and tho’ an extra hour made a little over 4 mls. After lunch surface and weather conditions improved and we reeled off in good style. We had hoped to finish 200 mls but at the above meter struck as good a place for a depot as cd be wished so camped – Time shots at lunch.

All day we continued to pass masses of these phenomenal sashugi

[Page 29]

and then profiles and facings are wonderfully sculptured. They are of such enormous size that one cannot but wonder at the elements which produce them – They are huge "wild-horses" or schools of huge fish or any other fantastic shape one can imagine – The curves are really beautiful and so hard polished and finely finished as to delight the heart of any sculptor. The surface as a whole is about as rough tough and heavy as anything we have read heard or dreamt of.

With the deltas and drifts of fine carried snow it looks very much like a vast river-bed which has been lately scoured & silted by a mighty flood – Our up-hill gradient has eased now and th depot spot commands a 3 to 4 mile horizon in every direction – We must get flags & mound erected & away by lunch tomorrow,

Friday December 13th 1912

Top-hole day all told, despite the ominous heading. Slight drift till about 5 pm but enough to prevent putting gear out to dry. Preparations for depoting shift proceeded apace to lunch – Sledge had to be stripped and we took every superfluous ounce off that we cd think of. Interalia kero opener, hypsocase, canvas decking, prismatic compass, extra spirit, superfluous medical kit & clothing, space tent, floor cloth, exposed films, 10 days food & one full tin of Kero. In all we reckon that we had reduced our wt by at least 150 lbs – On decent surface the sledge is a real toy.

Sorting out took a lot of time & prepare of flag took Cine & Bob quite a lot too. Then we had to build a mound and by the time we had put up a ten foot mound with flag on top to 15 feet it was well lunch time & we were considerably tired. However we made a start afterwards and have done nearly 4 mos.

The sledge requires very little hauling but the surface was "filthy". Somewhat similar to that of late but the hard crusted surface was not nearly as solid as usual – ? of the surface has been soft and the jolt experienced when one went thro’ 6" to 18" when one expected to step solid was most disconcerting. Ploughing thro this stuff was as bad as a very loose sandy beach.

Strange enough the effect on the sledge was slight as it was light enough not to cut in – We hope for better surface – The mark is a beauty & in an excellent place – It shd be visible for about 10 mls & at present shews up well. I guess it’ll take pretty dirty weather to prevent our picking it up. We are out on the last lap now which we hope is the beginning of the end. With good weather we shd make another 100 mls out and that will not be so bad.

Back here in 14 days & then to the hut!

[Page 30]

Saturday Decr 14th 1912

A most disappointing day – Afte last evening we hoped to do great strokes and get in one 15 mls but the day opened with 30 mls of wind and drift and tho we got clear by 1 pm the surface was enough to break anyone up.

By lunch we had just made 6 mls and that after good solid pulling all the way over rough, pie-crusty, & uphill going. It’s a case of uphill & down dale all the way climbing in and out of 2’ to 3’ sashugi and hauling the sledge after. Tho’ reduced by 25% the sledge again took its old leaden wt and we were quite done with 215½ mls up tonight. The last 2 mls were over a portion to which the rocky road to Dublin wd be a bowling green.

We went pretty well all out to-day and it’s really quite heart as well as back-breaking. We had intended to finish another ½ mile but landed on an enormous snow ramped ridge about 12 feet high and 5 chns long with a sentinel group of simply tremendous sashugi at the S end. Some of these are at least 6’ high and the "ugliest" looking lot of beasties the wind ever made. Well we’ve got to make 300 mls out somehow & 6 days to do 86 mls in so to bag – Dep here only -89 11.

Sunday Decr 15th 1912

A somewhat mixed but entirely strenuous day! I think everyone was all out today. Started off from our perch about noon and tho’ it begins to sound ludicrous hauled over tougher surface than any we had met. Wind was blowing 30 and carrying along large quantities of surface drift while the temp was about zero.

The groups of large sastrugi were more numerous than ever and in addition there was a deal of soft & pie crusty surface between which let one down into holes of various depths from which it was a tiring effort to withdraw. Also very steep up hill gradient. We never made a mile in an half-hour fleets the whole time to lunch & when we sat down beside the sledge to spell the sky line was completely hidden by these huge waves of hard & ancient snow.

By lunch altho’ going 4½ hours we had only made a little over 5½ miles and were feeling pretty down. In addition the wind & drift were as bad as ever and the temp was falling. Lunch however perked us up and the wind had eased a bit when we emerged so we started off a great deal better.

The first fleet gave us over the mile & we never lost it again during the evening. The next struck a lot of piecrust which took it out of us some and we were again pretty sorry for ourselves. I remarked that whoever had arranged the evils for this sledge trip had done his work remarkably well and forgotten mighty few. The only evil we have now to fear is some vicious combination of several of their.

The surface improved once more again after that and when the grade slackened we were able to do something towards making

[Page 31]

up for lost & bad times.

We are now camped after 12½ + mls which I think is our longest run to date. With conditions like the latter part of the evening we shall make our 300 mls comfortably yet. It is cold now at -11.0 & likely to be more so, so I must toggle down. Thank heaven we shall soon be homeward bound & only hope to goodness that the ship awaits us all right. This trip has become disappointing quite and resolves largely into a task to be completed.

Monday Decr 16th 1912

A perfect plateau day – Surface has been moderate – better than our average lately with less of the piles of huge sashugi but with still not a few & with plenty of moderate ones to climb over. Fair amount of the piecrust friable surface which broke thro’ under foot and is the heaviest of all hacks.

Managed to get our bags inside out to air for first time since 40 ml & for 2nd time since leaving ‘hut’ & by Jove they didn’t half want it. It’ll take several days like that to fix them properly.

Had slight stomach derangement this afternoon and had to keep sledge belt off stomach with hands and then managed to bluff it off till we finished 14 mls.

Have now 242 mls up & shd reach 300 all right. There is no hope of reaching the area of max dip as dip is 89° 18’ here and has only risen 10’ in 40 mls which is most disappointing. The last two miles were over very breaking surface which bumped us about nothing at all. Also it was late with a temp of -14. Nearly 11 pm when we stopped. Hope for another such day tomorrow.

Tuesday Decr 17th 1912

Splendid day but mediocre surface – much same as yesterday with very fair edition of pie-crust which knocked us out a lot – One stretch of 3 mls just before lunch was first class and we sailed over it in fine style – During lunch a very heavy cloud blew over and dropped some little snow in places. We tho’t we were in for it, but it blew over and cleared again satisfactorily.

Took alt az shots during lunch halt and Dec after – Dip 89° 23’. Made up over 14 mls tonight finally bringing aggregate up over 14 mls tonight finally bringing aggregate up to 256½ mls. Last mile was thro’ very heavy friable surface and we were very glad to get in at midnight. Great lighting effect on sashugi as we came along – All bathed with a heliotrope to French grey.

Wednesday Decr 18th 1912

Slept until 11-45 today so evidently wanted a rest. Lovely day again tho’ a 15 to 20 mile wind & temp about zero made it nippy on the nose & throat till after lunch halt. Got clear about 2, after a latitude shot immediately on turning out (Q = 70 06.45). poor surface for first mile and after that

[Page 32]

the best surface we have yet had.

We peeled out 5¼ by 5 pm & then lunched. Wind went down & we then did record fleet best 2 mls in less than 40 mins, Bob spouting Kipling all the way. At 11 mls up for the day we came to a depression with a field as far as one cd see of big lumpy sashugi up to 4 feet. Cine was wishing for a decent camera when he reckoned he cd have built no end of plates (or film). The camera we have has given trouble the whole way along and the film packs are worse. The whole thing is too light & the films won’t draw out of the packs – Cine reckons the only camera for the job is a p.c. size with interchangeable front for stereo & using roll film.

We are now camped on the rise beyond the depression after doing 13 mls of the best going we have had, making us 269¼ mls up & 31 to go in 2 days. With this weather we shd manage it comfortably.

Sleeping bags cd again turned inside out making the 4th time since leaving the hut – They are ever so much more comfortable for it – There is now but 10 mph outside & with the midnight sun away to the south things are not so bad despite -15° F. Dip tonight only -89 26.5 & dec -43° so no hope of reaching any polar area.

Thursday Decr 19th 1912

Out early today at 9-15 – Absolutely perfect day – Radiation thermome[ter] gave 105°7. Shade temp + 2.0 F. temp in tent 20 mins after primus was out +66° F. not a bad series for the plateau – It was absolutely calm and inside the tent we were just simply sweltering.

We started off pretty well stripped but in less than half an hour we stopped to reduce parthee[?] – Cine and Bob stripped to combinations and they did look a trick. I photographer them between two big sashugi. I cdn’t take my fleece off on acct of the watch – It was too hot to do any fast work and we only got 6¼ up before lunch – After lunch we waltzed along well and now have 14 odd up and 283¼ all told.

The last two miles were over & thro’ the greatest field of sastrugi we have met and we are now camped amongst them. Heavy Cumulus came over about 2 hrs before we camped and the light became so bad that it was difficult to see where one was going. We are afraid of snow out of the heavy Cu but it looks better now. Snow now wd make it extremely awkward & we can only hope for clear weather.

Bob was leading today and his eyes are bad so I am to drop zinc sulphate and cocaine in. Boys are ahead.

Friday Decr 20th 1912 298¼ mls camp.

Hurrah! We’ve nearly done it now any-how and not sorry either – The clouds cleared off entirely during the night and was perfectly clear today tho’ 20 ml

[Page 33]

wind calming off to 10 by time we pulled into this "camp here again". Started at 12 and 8 mls before lunch – surface heavy & pulling tiring. Better surface later tho’ with great quantities of very heavy sashugi which knocked the sledge about a lot – Bob put a wooden spoke in meter at lunchtime & it’s still in.

the ocean of sashugi into which we landed last night was quite as big as it seemed but was easily navigated in good light – We have practically finished our dash out now, and after 4 mls or so tomorrow with magnetic obs at extreme station will begin our homeward march with wind & weather behind us.

(Dip at camp this morning was -89 35 & Dec -53). Unless something exceptional happens we shd get back comfortably & in good time. I think we are all pleased to be about to return & we hope to hit it up when we start.

Saturday Decr 21st 1912 298¼ mls camp

Well we are practically thro’ with our trip now tho’ we have the above to cover ere we reach our temporary home once more – (Last night I took a midnight latitude shot & got 70° 34.’0 for this place) Bob took latitude at midday today & made it 70° 34.’4 so midnight obs was pretty good.

Today was glorious and the plateau seemed to be giving us a welcome & farewell at once pleasing and regretful. We marched out to 301 mls {Q = 70° 35.0’ (148° 16’ app)} and it was almost with regret that one tho’t of it as the last outward march. We had battled out so long & hard that to turn is a very decided reversal of ideas. But we are really glad, I think, to be making home again.

My afternoon was a solid one and dip in two directions at right angles with intensity later and alt.az. in between kept me busy for some 3½ to 4 hrs. Cine recorded half & Bob the other, Bob taking time shots after till he cdn’t see. The dip I haven’t computed yet but it must be about 89° 4’0. So near & yet so far. 400 mls would have crossed the polar area I think but by no matter how much stretching cd we get anything further startling so we had much better make a good job & be sure of what we have.

By 7 p.m. we were all mighty hungry and my back was pretty sore from so much bending over the low instrument. We lunched & then Cine photographed with flags flying "bands playing & drums beating etc". Three cheers for the King & we prepared for the return. This required the stepping of the mast & rigging of the sail which once aloft looked immense but there was only just sufficient wind to make it draw which with our light sledge (we had dumped all wts) was just as well.

Coming into the camp was very easy going with the wind & down hill & we made it in an hour. It was then 10 pm & we had

[Page 34]

298¼ mls Camp.

Latitude Friday Decr 20th 1912 (Mdt 20th/21st)

[Calculations]

298¼ camp Latitude Sat Dec 21st 1912 L.A. noon

[Calculations]

[Page 35]

[Continuation from page 33]

intended to proceed for about 6 mls but as it was late & we have to make our travelling [?] much earlier now to avoid midday sun in our face & get best ad of wind, it was decided to camp here for tonight & start early tomorrow – There is scarcely enough wind to flap the tent now & shd be great travelling tomorrow.

Sunday Decr 22nd 1912

Left camp early today about 10 and started home in great style with a stiff fair breeze and full sail – Our first experiences with the sail were needless to say varied and we have learned a few things about sledge sailing since we started.

At least however we know that a sail sensibly handled can be of enormous assistance. Our great square sail was first rigged with the yard aloft but this 7 foot square of japara was a bit heavy for our rigging and before a mile was out we had capsized once & then carried away stay. Wire stays were then replaced by alpine rope & Cine ran behind with a rope to the top of the load by which to prevent capsize and check way when it over-ran.

Later, I also came behind and Bob marched in front making course. This arrangement tho’ perhaps a change and appealing to the schoolboy spirit was not satisfactory tho’ we continued so to lunch when we had good mls up. During the morning Cine & I got more knocking about having more falls, slips and wallops than we have had since starting. I felt quite rotten at lunch.

Lunch had a surprise in store when I fd (as cook) that there was much biscuit over – We had cur the ration on this last bag to Bob’s estimate, and there was quite a deal more than enough for 2 lunches & 2 other meals which was all that had to go. This was a great find and we fed our fill in consequence at the same time putting some by as a saving.

After lunch we put our sail upside down with the yard below & sail bunched in at the top. This not only reduced sail but steadied the sledge too. All three then toggled in and we cd then just feel suff’t weight on beyond the sail to keep it straight on course. Passed our mound at 283 ml camp about 7.4 there Cine took two photos of sashugi.

Have made in all 18¼ mls today which considering the time lost "dickering" with the sledge at first, is not so bad. Now about 10-15 pm so we are getting earlier. Early start tomorrow – Dip at -89 43.2.

Monday Decr 23rd 1912

Out at 6-20 & very cold in wind & drift – 30 mph – and -6.0 with a [indecipherable] of -17.0 – By the way, our lowest recorded temp has been -25.0 F.

On the hack soon after I after slipping the S Mon top of the sledge – followed hacks for some distance & finally fd lunch camp. Bob’s eyes very bad & as easy going got him to ride on sledge & rest

[Page 36]

rest them. There were 7¼ mls of rough country then to cover before our next mound & Cine & I had not too good a time.

We allowed too much for leeway & got too far west of the mound but picked it up in the end away to our NE. Without the meter we cd but imperfectly judge distances. Bob better after lunch when sun behind and we started off for next mound at 7¾ mls. Found our old tracks at 2 mls away & following them up.

Have now passed the mound & camped at 1¾ beyond making a grand total for the day of 20½ mls – Day improved by [indecipherable] cessation of drift when we stopped but wind held to 10 mph even when we pulled in. Tired slightly the sail makes things easy.

Tuesday Decr 24th 1912
Away earlier this morning & good run found one "crampon" mound in about an hour. Picked up crampons and then had heavy pull across piecrusty surface for 7¼ mls to 249 lunch camp where took dip obs. Fair wind tho’ not strong all way & struck the marking record almost dead on course. Finished the obs at 6 Cine kindly recording while Bob patched & darned the tent.

Time shots & an extra boil up for tea saw us on the hack at 7.30 and we must have made 2½ mls. With 46½ mls to go to 200 depot we have visions of making it in two days.

This is Christmas eve and we have been discussing it and relating & wondering on Xmases past, present & future and can only conclude that it is scarcely likely that we shall spend another in such an out of the way place – Tired after 13¼ mls tramp & obs. The pie-crust takes it out of one even when walking only.

Bob’s eyes are better but he has had a crook time. Cine has a stye in one of his so we are a bit crippled fortunately mine are good.

Wednesday Decr 25th 1912

A Merry Christmas to every-body! And altho’ a hard day for us it has been a very good one. The wind tho’ quite moderate this morning had capriciously shifted by about 30° & was blowing from the S by W which was of but little use to us.

Made a lot of lee way & finally fd ourselves 1 ml to N of 242 mound – Made this Northing up & then kept on to 9 mls in all to lunch – Had started late – 10-30 and the wind had freshened & was keen.

Found that ice-axe had either been left behind or dropped off & tho’ it was mine the others wd insist on tossing to see who shd lose it fell to Cine.

Heavy pull after lunch over pie-crust surface & now camped at old 228 ml camp. Bob led all day insisting that he was not straining his eyes but he can’t focus things with left at all and they are not good again tonight. We have

[Page 37]
post-poned our Xmas celebrations till 200 depot where we hope to have a great bust the day after tomorrow – All sorts of weird soups puddings and wines are talked of and Bob & Cine have all manner of schemes to carry out while I take a set of obs.

Well we must cover most of that 28 mls tomorrow so here’s into bay –

Thursday Decr 26th 1912

Out fairly late at 7-40 today & feeling sleepy. 30 miles of wind with surface drift, and very keen. Got away at 10-30 & heavy going across the wind which S. The wind made heavy lee-way and I had to pull up into wind whole time. This gave my left hip a doing all day. We had 12¾ mls to make to our next mound and on a 45° course.

We made certain not to get to lee-ward and tho I felt sure we were making too much westing we held on. We picked up the mark about 6 mls off but as we were not sure of it pulled on our course till making sure. Finally we landed up about 3 mls to windward. In all we made about 15 mls to the mound before lunch and that over our rottenest section. We had to make the mound to get photos of sashugi there & Cine took 2 which finishes one outfit for the trip thanks to useless film packs.

Since lunch at 5 starting again at 7 we have made 8 mls & are now well within a mornings march of our depot & with a leading beacon in sight. We have talked off & on all day of the great dinner tomorrow & we are looking forward to it. It has been a hard day & we are late in so must toggle down. I guess they have had high jinks at home today!

Friday Decr 27th 1912

This is being written up three days later and why will no doubt shortly appear. This morning came to us about 10 with wind and drift but we got moving at 11-30 making a course for the depot. Marched right on to leading beacon & then on to main depot without a hitch getting in at 3-30. There was a side wind all the way which caused a good deal of annoyance & lee-way.

Preparations were then immediately started for the dinner. We had a boil of cocoa and some plasmon biscuits to stop us off for the time being & then I went on with obs while Cine prepared the dishes & Bob fixed things up for a start on the morrow.

The depot is just as we had left it and tho’ the mound had settled some what, our flag which we had mounted so high was still standing OK tho’ the stays had loosened. We have all quite decided that we shd never trouble to carry depot flags again. A good big piece of black bunting on top of a ten foot pile of snow is as good as if not better than any flag.

The menu which was fully carried out

[Page 38]

tho’ not necessarily in the orthodox order will be fd elsewhere. Our difficulty was that being used now to a definite limited ration we shd if we went right ahead most certainly be decided by all. To avoid any evil consequences we agreed to spread the banquet over afternoon and evening taking the dishes as they were prepared.

The first was gorged just as I finished time shots and proved to be soup which same was topping. As Cine is to prepare the recipes for all his dishes I shall not go into details but knowing the limitations of a sledge ration the things he turned out do even him ‘proud’.

Perhaps however I had better explain a little. There was for disposal 2 rations of pem[pemmican], 1 of butter 1 or 2 of sugar glaxo compd, 1 of cocoa & 1 of plasmon biscuit besides raisins lime juice modules, a little toffee & sugar perks & chocolate. The soup was made by picking the lumps of pem out of pem compd and boiling up.

After I had finished alt-az and dec. obs, plum pudding and ice-cream were ready. That pudding was indeed a work of art and I think easily took the palm for the day. Out of the pem, the suet and ground biscuit was selected. The biscuit of course was all we had in the way of flour and had then to be soaked & swollen. To this were added the suet, some butter a little cocoa comp and glaxo comp & the raisins. The whole was then boiled in a pudding cloth food bag and produced a pudding the like of which has never been seen on the plateau before. But the most surprising feature was the way in which it filled us.

By the time we were half way thro’ our several shares (they were not small ones) we began to look at the rest; but it was too good to leave so we stuck to it & finished it up. It was just all we cd manage and we had to rest very quietly after it. Ice cream and plasmon wafers followed after a decent interval and I then proceeded to finish the obs and found it exceedingly cold before finishing at 4.

Raisin gliders’ and ‘Chocolate Sastrugi" appeared at intervals and also the savoury which last was a great hit consisting of pem fried in butter on plasmon biscuit. This was also the opportunity taken at which to drink the various toasts in Raisin Wine (Hoyle 1912). Exertions for the day being over Cine prepared hoosh & bags ased we had our final courses in a reclining attitude being but too glad to toggle down afterwards it being then after mid-nt.

Saturday Decr 28th 1912

We didn’t wake till late today and fd it blowing hard as ever (45 mls) with surface drift but fortunately for us practically a dead fair wind. Got away at 1-15 and made 10 mls easily by lunch tho’ we didn’t pick up the mound we were looking for.

On again after lunch & in less than 3 hrs picked up a mound which was 18 mls run from depot. The going had

[Page 39]

been good & much better than we had expected and with the sail to help us we did not feel the extra wt we had picked up at the depot.

We had talked often and considered the chances of breaking the Antarctic sledging record of 40 mls in 24 hrs and this seemed as good a chance as any as the surface seemed to be improving. So we decided to have a go for it and away on for 1¼ hrs when at 11 we stopped to boil up.

Sunday Decr 29th 1912

At 1 am when we came out to start again it was as nippy and uninviting as ever the plateau looked & might well have bluffed us off. Also we were all sleepy. But we plugged on for 4 hrs somehow or other and put up 11¾ mls by meter which we had again attached to do its last gasp as we were travelling off our old course after the "sarcophagus" which we missed.

At 5 oclock when we stopped again for lunch the sun was getting higher & it was warmer & more cheerful. I think the lunch meal bucked us more than our hoosh had previously and at 7 we were feeling pretty good with a 9 mile run in front of us to put 43 up. The meter by this time was very literally on its last legs having only about two spokes to the mile left, so it cd be depended on not to ever record the distance. As we marched along a spoke wd jangle out at least once a mile and finally there were not sufficient spokes to hold it straight & it rolled rd with the rim against the forks.

At 11-15 we pulled in with 43 mls metered and probably 44 mls up in 22 hrs. The meter was absolutely done (tho’ we weren’t) with 12 spokes left & all these but one in one half of the wheel. We were tired & sleepy but none the worse and felt we had accomplished something so had great satisfaction in eating a big hoosh and getting into bag.

Before coming in I took a latitude shot being much annoyed the while by wind and drift & got TQ = 69 01.2. Hope for a longitude tonight or tomorrow.

Monday Decr 30th 1912

Awoke at 2 and cdn’t sleep after. Feeling hungry so fed & wrote up last few days diary. Wind still piping.

Got away at 11 when wind & drift as usual when on savinjo wind & drift as usual of late. After removing the dial of the meter and cutting off the universal or 2 directional joint for Cine, Bob laid the meter adrift & I set it up as a back mark.

Put on new finnesko this morning and shortly after we started, the surface became particularly smooth & I was constantly falling over. It was a surprise to me not to be able to keep my feet and caused much annoyance every now & then giving me a shock or shaking. At last I had to give it up and change for crampons which I wore without finnes[ko].

We all felt exceedingly

[Page 40]

lackadaisical and did not get along at a great rate. We marched till 4-30 when we camped to get line shots and magnetic obs. Drift reduced as we came along and we picked up the Modules away almost due west.

Camped after about 12 mls and I took three shots before lunch while Cine put up a windbreak for me to take dip obs behind. Bob’s eyes are still crook & I am afraid will not be worth much till we get out of here. Cine stuck out his 2 hrs in the cold after lunch to record for me & we finished by 10 pm. It helps a lot to have a recorder tho’ he gets about as bad a time as the observer except that he’s not there so long.

Have just now finished a fine hoosh & cocoa which, thanks to Bob, Cine & I luxuriously partook of in bag. We had 11 days food clear when we started on our bag this morning & as it will not take more than 5 days to reach our Southern Cross depot we have put 3 days clear away & are now taking the other 7 out in the 5 days. The ration is glorious! Wind less now & no drift but a very wild sky so no telling what’s for tomorrow.

Tuesday Decr 31st 1912

The last day of the year! A fair day for us – the presage of last night only resulted in a pall of light nimbus from which we got but a few dribbles of snow. The pall however continued all day to 9 pm just allowing me to get a lat shot. The light was very bad for marching and in the lead I only had the vaguest idea of the surface beneath me. But the wind was almost nothing & there was no drift so that beyond a few overturns of the sledge we had nothing of which to complain.

Camped for lunch at 5-30 and Cine & Bob ‘fished’ our yard & computed afterwards so that we didn’t get away again till 9 pm. The light then was much better and we made quite a fair pace till 11. Cine had his eyes devouring beautiful cloud effects and he was continually regretting the want of a good camera.

We are now camped in about 60 mls from our depot and 130 from hut and have just seen the sun set on the old year & rise on the new. It is not very high at midn’t now and by the time we get to hut we shall have lost the midnight sun entirely.

The Expedition has now seen its third year & can be at last called the 1911-1913 Expdn.

We have not made more than 15 mls today & must buck up to 20 tomorrow. Noses and lips are all peeling and are very sore. Bob’s eyes are not any better yet & Cine thinks he is raising another ‘stye’ so we are not having all our own way. Hazeline cream is much in demand but doesn’t seem too effective.

[Page 41]

Wednesday January 1st 1913

Another year gone and another come to be used or received and passed on with the rest! I suppose this is the time for man to take heed and think what he has done and shall do with himself. However we on the plateau had a very present interest in & or less finding one-selves. Not that we were lost but having run across country for 70 odd mls we hoped to find our old hack again both for scientific and personal reasons.

The day opened but partly, the sky being palled entirely with Nimbus which shed an intermittent shower of light snow on us. We moved off shortly after noon in a perfectly rotten light. For last two days we have tried finnesko crampons without finnes and altho’ they are wearable they are heavy and at least 2 inches too long. Cine gave his over for finnes again today and I changed at lunchtime.

Made 12 mls (estimated) before lunch and sky cleared after but disclosed no sign of mound tho’ they shd have been pretty well within sighting. We moved on after a good spell & after an hrs run saw a beacon ahead lit up by a stray shaft of sunlight which shot thro’ heavy cloud. It must have been 4 mls off for we didn’t make it for over an hr. it proved to be the old 109 mls mound and tho’ much dilapidated was still very recognisable. It was ramped almost to the top with heavy new sashugi and same all round.

Continued on to 105½ ml where we are now camped. We had time shots here on way out & wish to repeat. Only a small mound showing distinctly. Bob’s eyes bad all day and he had a bad time of it. We must done about 21 mls today and Cine stowed so much hoosh & cocoa into us that we are now feeling over-full.

Temperatures are beginning to become oppressively high down here and we don’t expect any more minuses. Lips & noses are still sore. The country down here looked somewhat prodigious to us on the way up and now it seems as flat & easy as a normal country road. Our ideas of surface have changed since we came thro.

Thursday Jan 2nd 1913

Slept very soundly last night but Bob had to call me early this morning to try & doctor his left eye which had kept him awake all night. I put "drops" in last night & the right eye was fairly easy but he tho’t there was something under the left lid. I looked as well as I cd thro his ?" to 1/4 " slit and tried to turn the lid inside out; but the light was too strong for him to open it and the muscles held it so tightly shut that I had no success.

Made up a pack or compress out of a field dressing and snow and bandaged him up. He was able to sleep after this till 11 this morning. We have had him bandaged blind all day & riding on the sledge. We didn’t worry

[Page 42]

about getting off early as we hoped to get a time shot at the 100 ml and that meant only 5 mls before lunch.

Sky was very compromisingly overcast with nimbus and light snow was falling just before there when there was not a vestige of sun and the light was absolutely rotten. All we had to steer by were the old sashugi and these were nearly all covered by later falls & drifts of snow. There were enough wind to make going fairly easy over good surface but there was a good lot of pulling over softer stuff before we reckoned that we had made our distance.

Light was even worse then & more snow was falling so that no feature of surface was distinguishable outside a 10 yard radius & our mound was hopelessly beyond our ken. Pitched for lunch Bob making himself quite useful considering. No better after lunch, in fact worse, so we stuck off on a fair course for the 67 depot i.e. N40W. Here steering was even more difficult in the light.

There are three sets of sashugi and to pick the right direction when it was all one cd do to see any surface at all was to say the least difficult and trying. No relief or contrast & one eternal white! We plugged on for 2 hrs 40 mins without seeing a thing & then the wind was down & surface so bad that it was either camp or Bob get off & walk so we chose the former.

It is now snowing away outside & looking like sticking to it. We expect to pull into the region of the depot tomorrow and then have three days food to look for it with. Cine is now writing some [indecipherable] on our Xmas festivities & our songs in general have progressed some this evening. Must attend to our patient now –

Friday Jany 3rd 1913

Out at 9.30 when sun showing and promise of an improvement on yesterday. Wind & drift made uncomfortable but both abating. Left Cine to prepare hoosh while I took obs and prepared for Latitude. The taking of obs was not enticing & with drift over everything & in my eyes not to mention melting on to everything at a temp of +20° was well over after 4 shots.

Away shortly after one and that into a surface which surprised every one of us. This section was reported in our log as about the best on the whole trip on the way out. We made a record run with a full sledge on the way out. Today we fd it covered with from 6" to 18" of soft drift snow and thro’ this we have ploughed all day to 11 pm when we had covered about 15 mls at the rate of 2 mls per hr solid collar work.

Pie-crust isn’t in it with this sort of stuff. If the rest of the 76 mls is the same I shall be much relieved to see the

[Page 43]

hut. What we shd have done if we had cut things fine expecting to do 20 mls a day over this, I don’t know but we shd probably have had a pretty tight pinch. To plug into this on short rations wd be absolutely & thank heaven we’ve plenty of grub. We expected to be alongside the depot tonight & we are still 12 mls off but have 3 full days grub in hand so we’re quite all right. Pretty tired all round tonight & after 1 now so must shut-eye.

Saturday Jany 4th 1912 [1913]

Bob turned out before we were awake & started the hoosh today. His eyes are better & I suppose he is making up for the doctoring. Dirty drift and 35 m.p.h. Got away at last about 1-30. Surface improved all day tho’ not good even yet. After about 3 mls the "ramps" shewed up ahead of us and on "bluff" showed up away to E. Both looked to us (Cine & I) much closer than we had expected and the mound which shd have been handy was not in evidence.

Altered our course to 40W and went ahead. I think we were too far N & E. Marched on till got bearing on "ramps" which shd have bro’t us in line with "pick-axe" mound 5 mls from depot but no sign (too far N I think).

Lunched there and have since marched on course which shd raise the depot but having reached our dead reckoned position of it (without any sign) and weather clear, we have camped in till latitude (and longitude) determinations in morning. It has been blowing at least 25 all day and tho’ helping us with sail has more drift than convenient for good view of country. There shd be no difficulty in the morning & we have two full days food yet. It’s a bit exciting & trying – coming into a depot, especially when it doesn’t turn up where one expects it.

Sunday Jany 5th 1913

Heavily overcast – later snow – no chance for lat shot – away and made 2 to 3 mls N45W. Turned into bag. Out at 5 when cleared & got true shots. No sign of depot. Cine went off to look but no luck. Further line shots later which gave a lat about 68 00.5 which placed us about 5 mls to SE of depot. Have made 4¾ mls but no sign of depot or recognisable country. Hope for lat in morning tho’ sky unpromising. On half rations & things a bit serious.

[Page 44]

Monday Jany 6th 1913

Turned out at 11 when evenly overcast to wait on sun. by pure luck it came out just before noon and I got fair shots which gave a lat of 67° 58.2 Thank goodness it was warm at +21.5 & but little wind & drift. This shewed us that we had still nearly 2 mls of nothing yet to make and this we proceeded to do as soon as possible.

Before we were well started, Nimbus clouds came up from SE and it began to snow. The sun did its best but cd not break up the pall. The light got worse and worse and now we have been camped on out lat for 10 hrs with light snow all the time and every-thing obscured.

We had a half-ration of pem this morning and half cocoa with a corner of biscuit and have now (after morn) just had a half-biscuit a little butter and 1 stick of choc. with a half brew of tea.

Snow still hangs and altho’ we have enough grub by stretching to keep us going some days, how long our strength will hold can’t say. We must be to west of one depot and if the weather only clear we shd have but little further difficulty but the weather can’t be trusted for 10 mins. The whole situation is decidedly a tight corner, and it is a grim irony of fate to let us thro’ so far and then trip us up over the last little lap.

But tho’ we have even 8 mls to make East we are not done yet. Fortunately it is warm & one can exist on almost nothing in the bag doing nothing & with all clothing on. Heigh ho! ‘nil desperandum’! Cine is jocularly continuing the Carol on our Christmas dinner.

Tuesday Jany 7th 1913

Woke today to same heavy pall and light snow. No chance of seeing anything so have lain tight in bags sleeping waking & killing time till now 4 p.m. Very light wind SSE all day but even that has now dropped. We have held breakfast off in hopes of it clearing so that we might proceed but it looks like a further doss here paid. To keep spirits up with this exasperating pall over everything and limited resources is a poser.

Cine has finished the Xmas Carol and is now correcting it. It’s hard to keep one’s mind off the burning question of "Where is it" and I have thrashed it out numerous times only to conclude that it is out East. One begins to distrust everything at these times & the lat might be astray but the only thing that cd throw it out is a day out in the date & that is proved by back latitudes.

We therefore can be sure of that much. After that we have run all our courses very much to West since seeing the ramps so that the only conclusion is that we must go East. Altho’ quite warm in bag it is very hard to kill time for one can’t sleep all the time & thinking is even more difficult, always getting mixed with something present. We inspect

[Page 45]

[Sketch of lines]

[Page 46]

the weather at intervals but it shows no unbending sign.

The latest suggestion has come that we move off after a hooch to E & I am willing. Made 4 mls E in "dark" but it got bright after camped. Nothing to be seen except ramps dimly out E. Possiblities of a break for the coast discussed. Only one full day’s ration – desperate chance but unless weather clears permanently the only fighting chance. Turned into bag.

Wednesday Jany 8th 1913

Quite clear about 3 am & as cdn’t sleep went out & had look round. Cdn’t sleep at all. I advised holding on to find the depot if weather cleared. Hoosed on ? to ¼ ration about 4 am, & then went out to try & ge a distance from ramps. Not visible & heavy cir cloud coming over. Then decided to clear out & chance it. Left all super wts including D.C. Matter of life & death.

67½ mls on less than a day’s ration with heavy pall over everything & not a steering mark visible! Have now camped after having done about 19½ mls. I didn’t think it was possible but it has to be done and we’re not so bad after it. Heavy pulling over soft snow thro’ which put foot to matter of 1 to 3" or 4". Assisting rations out with absolute alcohol.

Must get another 20 mls in tomorrow and then we have a reasonable chance. How we managed to keep on pulling today for over 10 hrs in that stuff I don’t know. With the merest suggestion of something to eat, for we tho’t our ordinary ration small and as solid a grind as ever we cd have tho’t it was the absolute fight for life that carried our tho.

Thursday Jany 9th 1913

Started 10-40 am. Made over 20 mls. Heavy going with wind to lunch hald & good going along sashugi &’ down wind for remdr. Had to war crampons. Saw sea tonight from a prominence to E of Com Bay. Shd get in now alright if fine. Camped on ice with snow dug from crevasse. Awkward pitching without an axe. Standing it better than I ever tho’t we’ed.

Sea clearing[?] but we have narly 30 mls to go yet. 4 am (on 10th) now. Wind blowing 50 to 60 and as cold as charity. 20 mph blowing right across the tent. Fabric to windward is getting very thin and there are holes galore round the top. Put spare tent down so that it can be drawn right over heads & cover bags. All very tired and jolt thankful to have got at least a sight of the sea. It looked exceedingly close to be 40 mls off but suppose it’s all right.

Cdn’t recognise our surface today. It all seems to have lost the snow and last part was over great big crevasses which we certainly didn’t cross on the way out. The wind this morning was fair devil. We had to haul at 40° into it, and with a variable surface from good finnesko holding to hard sashugi on which we fell continuously and got so much knocking about that at last had to resort to crampons.

Wdn’t be so bad but there was no

[Page 47]

light and drift all the time so that in the lead I cdn’t see the surface beyond just the fewest sashugi. Fortunately the sun shewed for several hours and we managed to steer fairly but then even that went in entirely & I had to do what I cd without. After pegging along in the dark for 2 or 2½ hours across the wind the sun came out & shewed us that we were running too much across the wind & we were able to change & run down wind to our great relief.

Sitting in the tent tonight we have hopes that we may get thro but it seems but a chance, we don’t know where we are and we can only trust to pure luck.

Friday Jany 10th 1913

The most memorable day of our lives! Wind howled all night on our exposed tent and we thanked the inspiration which had induced us to bring the spare tent along with us. With every stitch of spare clothing on we cdn’t keep warm with that fearful draught across the tent and a thin thin hoosh inside with a cup of hot water and absolute (2 spoonfuls) mixed in it.

As not toggled in till 4-30 am we stayed in bag till 1 pm when wind was beginning to drop a little. Out of bag & our meagre ration ready conserving warmth by not moving out of tent till everything done. Cold out even in warmest part of the day and we were eager to get going and warm.

Bob suggested a look round to ascertain any new features which might direct our course. I had a good quiz & cd make nothing more than what had appeared last night to be the western point of the bay until a dark object shewed up to East low down & apptly about 1 ml off. It looked to me like something lying down. Bob looked & then I went across to look but cdn’t get much closer so it must have been several miles off as I walked for ½ hr all told.

When I looked last it appeared most like a dead body head up into the wind & lying in the snow. It gave me a bit of a turn and when I said so to Bob he said that was the first impression he got. However I wasn’t certain at all so we started off to make our 20 to 30 mls of Northing across great wide crevasses.

From our elevation, it was difficult to define anything partly no doubt because we had never had a view in anything approaching clear weather before. Both Bob & I tho’t I we recognised bergs but we cdn’t be sure and we had grave doubts as to whether we had hit the Bay at all.

Cine had been in agony all night with painful eyes and had one bandaged so he rode the sledge for a while. Our only chance was to go ahead so we pushed on & trusted to luck. Fortune favored us & the weather cleared. After 5 or 6 miles the bay began to open up & our hopes rose to believe that we were all right after all.

What as towered[?] us was that where as we had calculated on having some 25 mls to go to make the coast at all, we had done it in about 5.

By 8 pm we

[Page 47]
had sighted what what by bergs and general appearance seemed impossible to be other than our Mackellar Is. It seemed absolutely incredible and I had a dulled feeling that I cdn’t believe it till I got actually inside the hut. We were away to the West and lied up in a lot of ugly looking crevasses.

Poor Cine cdn’t see where he was going & floundered about terribly making himself very tired. Lunched on a patch of snow & then tried to clear the crevasses but only got more bogged. At last pulled right back up-hill to clear & got over safely. Both Bob & Cine were both as blind as bats & at last when we, or I, sighted the 5 ml depot they cdn’t see it till within 200 yds. So here we are comfortably camped in the five mile cave (got here at midnight 10/11th) where I had never supposed we cd be in my wildest flights of hope.

Proposed three days ago to start our 67½ mls away with less than one day’s food in dirty overcast & drifting weather and over unknown surface and after having starved already for over two days, I had regarded it (as we all did) as the last desperate fighting chance for life. To plug on for two days often times with but the vaguest idea of direction till each day we were done till we cd but get further by pushing our flagging footsteps with "You only fight for your lives once", is to me now among the incredible doings of man.

We must have averaged at least 25 mls a day for those two days which considering the weather and surface wd be a big physical feat at any time on full rations but to do it on less than ¼ with the fearful uncertainty of the issue was truly terrible.

For my part, I started off with the feeling that we might possibly chance to get far enough to strike an outlying depot or a returning party with the vagary of fortune, or that otherwise we shd have gone under doing our damdest and there was anshed[?] to it. I can’t say I expected to see my dear ones again except as a bare chance. As for getting in on our resources I didn’t tho’t with the greatest luck we might get in on hands and knees.

The facts only go to shew what men can do in straits and that we must be pretty tough. As a purely physical feat we can’t regard our miraculous escape, but when we think of the mental uncertainty, we can only be profoundly thankful that we were able to pull it thro’.

And my poor old D.C! We’d have pulled it too, if we had known but with lives at stake mere material must not matter. Perhaps we may be able to go & look for it.

The marvel is that beyond being very tired, we are all physical fit. Weaker of course than we were but probably able to see out the other two days we had arranged to make one day’s ration last. After careful feeding and a good rest we shd be right as pie. Well here’s to rest.

The others have toggled in half an hour since. Can only hope no other party has a like experience. Looking back over it now I don’t know how on earth we did it.

[Page 49]

When I think of those two almost absolutely blanket dark days when we fell or scrambled along to we knew not what end, it seems incredible to believe that it’s really over. The strain came not so much in what we have actually passed thro’ as in what we reasonably supposed we might. When we arrived here we still had enough on one pinched ration to see us into the fifth day out and we had tho’t it possible that we might get in on that fifth day.

Coming in over yesterday we even in our then circumstances pitied ourselves on the way out & wondered how ever on earth we had biol ourselves to haul an 800 lbs sledge over that appalling surface & into that blasting wind & forbidding grade.

The coastal strip of about 100 mls has received from us the designation of a "death-haf" and at this time of year it is veritably so. While coming thro’ that stretch we saw one moderately fine day in ten. Om all the rest there was only very occasionally the fleeting chance of sun obs and practically the whole time it was impossible to distinguish the surface at one’s feet.

In that ten days the sun came thro’ 4 or five times all told and then it was on all but one occasion covered in afew hours by the same persisting heavy nimbus pall which to all intents and purposes cur the world down to 10 yds. When dashing out of the heavy nimbus effect was even more fearful. It seems continually to come right down on top of us and produced the most wind mist shapes within a hundred yards.

To find a depot in such a wilderland with naught but obs and field glasses to guide one, is like walking into a man-trap. We can thank our lucky stars we started off when we did. Suppose we had stayed and then started off on nothing!!

Contents of our food bag on return :-

Biscuit
8 oz
(base)
Pem. Compd
17 ozs
(base)
Butter
3 ozs
Glaxo & sugar
7 ozs
(base)
Cocoa & sugar
14 ozs
Chocolate
2 ozs
Rations
51 ozs
This was about ? of the total amount on hand when we left the vivinity of the 67 depot so that we started off with :-

               5/2 x 51 ozs = 128 ozs of food.

In addition we had perks

               Sugar 7 oz
                Lime Juice Nodules 3 oz

Foods of any kind total 138 ozs for 3 men for anything up to 5 days.
Against this is the fact that we had been on less than ½ rations for three days before.

[Page 50]

Weights of Southern Sledge Parties Gear

lbs
Norwegian Sledge – decking, cooker and insl boxes
74
Hypsometer, Field Glasses, D.C. head, tin pith Prismatic compass, 4 thermoses, Med. Kit, Comp gear
17
Sun compass, match tin, theodolite and legs
14¼
Sledg4e ropes and harness
7
Tin & ready bottle of spirit, sheath knife, Bousa set Repair bag, Prickers matches etc, ice specimen bags
12
Spare tent, Sail, Floor cloth, Alpine rope, ruck sack flags
24
10 filmpacks, aneroid, pedometer, full prinens, bunting, lamp-wick, ice axe
11
Dip Circle
22
3 sleeping bags
31½
Sledge-meter
10
Cooker, mugs, spoons
13
Clothes bag full
72
Pick and shovel
10
Mast, yard, boom and rigging
8
¼ Camera
3½
Tent and legs
26
½ plate camera & 1 doz plates (approx.)
             15
Depot pole & flag
              5
Double pole & flag for 67 depot
        12½
     387¾
5 tins Kerosene
           50
Perks and food weights
        14½
7 weeks food
         350
         414½
Total
      802¼
After 67 depot deduct

Double depot pole
          12½
1.2 plate camera
            15
Odd clothing boots etc
            20
Pick-axe
              4
         51½
After 751

[Page 51]

Sledging Ration – Main Base
A.A.E. 1911 – 1913

Provisions for 3 men for 2 weeks

2 bags pemmican compound each containing
9lbs 8ozs pem
1lb 5ozs emergency
7lbs 8¾ozs plas. biscuit
2 bags cocoa compound each containing
5lbs 4ozs Glaxo
2lbs 10ozs sugar
1lb 5ozs cocoa
2 bags each containing sugar & glaxo
2lbs 10ozs sugar
1lb 5ozs glaxo
2 bays plasmon buiscuits
8lb 13ozs plas. Biscuit
2 bags butter each containing
2lbs 10ozs butter
2 bags chocolate each containing
2lbs 10ozs Nex or chocolate
14 infusions of tea ¾oz each
10½ozs tea

Ration per Man per Day

Breakfast
pem compd
6?oz
cocoa compd
3½oz
whole biscuit
1?oz
Lunch
butter
2oz
chocolate
2oz
glaxo & sugar
3oz
whole biscuit
4½oz
(I tea infusion)
¾
Dinner
pem compd
6?oz
cocoa compd
3½oz
whole biscuit
1?oz

[Page 52]

[All the following pages are written from the rear of the notebook]

The Song of the Cooks (Duoes Chorus in Miss Gibbs)

A pair of fashionable cooks are we, you see,
What we have cooked the others must ccook it too,
Our penguin stews are made to taste, you know it, you know it.
Our dishes and floors are certainly clean, they show it, they show it.
Our dishes and floors are certainly clean, and they show it.

For we cook correct in every respect.
And you’ll note the effect,
On bones we leave no meat on,
For we’ve studied Mrs. Beeton,
We may not be great intellect,
Still as cooks we are – we are so correct.

(You’re not that sort of person – Miss Gibbs)

We must confess that as the cooks we’re almost ideal,
We will admit too that our cakes you almost could steal,
But we hope you won’t consider that we’re too impolite,
You’re very near the sort of cooks we want but not quite.

If you were just the sort of cooks that we cd admire,
If you cd only make the nice things that we do desire,
Then there wd never be any crusty people at all,
But as cooks you’re not the sort of people at all.

[Page 53]

Chorus

For it isn’t even in the regulations,
To wake a ma when he’s asleep in bunk,
And I’ll lay twenty sticks to one,
You’d see the night-watch run,
If the generator bubbles or even stunk.

[Page 54]

"Faith Hope and Charity" (Sons of the Sea)

Clang forth triumphant domestic pots and pans,
Bellow forth unceasingly,
For the hero of Africs darkest lands,
Ex-cook and muddling mess J.C.
Do you know he threatened once to fight,
Closed his eyes then pulled the gun,
Alas! When a Weddell is a-basking on the ice,
He’s very brave! Just look how he can run!
As a marks-man he’s sublime, and can shine every time.

Chorus (tune He never has been known to hit the target)

For he never has been known to hit the target,
His marksman-ship is absolutely fine,
And I’ll lay twenty squares to one,
When he takes up his gun,
He’s bound to miss the bulls-eye every time.

Have you heard the latest in the land,
About one storeman Murph – Oh wicked! –
How he’s going to give for sugar sand,
And cut us down to half a brickette,
If you want but a tiny pinch of spice,
Just to make the blubber taste prime,
He’ll say Oh take this little piece of ice,
I’ll have to dig and it’ll take some time,
And he always does forget, you can bet, you won’t get it.

Chorus

For it’s strictly against the regulations,
Why it isn’t even in the ration line,
And I’ll lay twenty sticks to one,
Say dark when bright’s the sun,
He’s bound to side with you right every time.

"Crook-cooks", "Trinity" and "muddling messmen" too,
"Never-wassers" and brave old "has-beens",
Cook your grub that the others may but chew,
And learn the intricacies of sausage machines,
Many are the parts and difficult to wash,
Use all the ice to the pole,
We don’t want raw blubber and such bosh,
And clean the stove or else you’ll use the coal,
Order the mess-man as you like to scrub the dyke he won’t strike.

[Page 55]

The Doctor’s Song

I vass ze doctor gross und learned, modcrate vass mine fee,
Und ven ze haf in ze head ze pain, I was cut ze open to see,
Und ven on ze body I zees the marks, made by ze bites ob fleas,
Mine gracious I zay vy look at they, dey vass a dread disease,
Mine Gott you vill decease.
Poke out ze tongue ma’am, ind let me feel ze pulse,
Und vetire’s ze sprain, or ze oder pain, vich I vill cure at once,
Bring me ze chloriform, und my knives at vonce.

Mitt learnet skill I diagnose, inzipient meningitis,
Ze patient haf ze compound fracture of ze appendicitis,
I twvizzle mine knife into ze ribs to cure ze apoplexy,
And treat ze patient with the house-maid’s knees,
And cure ze histeropexy, ze hyperhistropedescy,
Influenza und necrosis, she’s broke her tuberculosis,
Take ze galahad cake, for ze belly-ache,
A cirro-strato-nimbus, and ze wind begins to blow.

[Page 56]

Chorus

U-n-c-l-e A-l-f spells Uncle Alf,
He is a really first-rate worker,
And no one can ever call him shirker,
And we wish him good luck and all success,
And may he never, ever, ever, ever forget the old cry,
Boys where is he?

Chorus Why! There he is, that’s him.

[Page 57]

Uncle Alf (That’s him)

Who is it celebrates his twenty-seventh birthday,
Why – (There he is, that’s him)
Where is the man that is 27 and ne’er been kissed
Why Chorus There he is that’s him
He’s altering his shape, he is getting so fat,
Said Good old Dame Nature, I’ll accommodate that,
And so as to have support, she gave to him a third leg,
Why Chorus There he is, that’s him.

Chorus

C-r-e-m-a-t-e-d Alfie
"Hun", "Uncle", and the other names he goes by,
To, coquettes ones he gives the messy glad-eyes,
And when he returns to the austral land,
Familiar voices in the crowd, and fairy sweet-hearts cry aloud,
Why! Look! Chorus "There he is, that’s him".

Where is our architect and gadgetry, carpenter,
Why? Chorus There he is, that’s him.
Where is the man that is artist and cartographer
Why? Chorus There he is, that’s him.
When in the blizzard we see a man stout,
On his three legs all a-bobbin’ about,
We poke our heads out the hap door and all do shout
Why! Look! Chorus There he is, that’s him.

Chorus

Uncle Hodgy, poor cremated Alfie,
Once a maiden seized him in her clutches,
Took no notice of his modest blushes,
Alfie and Florence, spooning by the Torrens,
And we heard tem kiss as we passed by,
So we couldn’t help but raise the cry,
Heavens! Look! Chorus There he is, that’s him.

What shall we shout in the future when he’s in the street?
Look! Chorus There he is, that’s him.
When he passes down the aisle, with his dainty bride so sweet,
Just look! Chorus There he is, that’s him.
And when he builds her a nice litthe home, and has about twenty kids hair to comb,
He will always remember how the boys did cry,
Why! Chorus There he is, that’s him.

Chorus over.

[Page 58]

Only a leaf (Sue! Sue! Sue!)

We have a new unconventional Cook,
Who rose from the ranks of those that cook crook,
Blanc-manges quite new and so is his stew
Cribbed from the Beeton’s famed cooking book,
The dishes he drops and the bowls do a spin,
And loud voices cry at the raucous din.

Chorus

Dad! Dad! Dad! You’re a gay old gala-galahad,
Dad! Dad! Dad! Your scones give us pains in tho Oh! if I catch you bending,
Dad Dad Dad your roly-polys aren’t so bad,
And your pudding sauce is fine,
But ye oughter ken that wine,
Don’t go woth plaid, plaid, plaid.

We’ve set ourselves quite a difficult task,
Reducing a man that’s as stout as a cask,
Our efforts to try he has stoutly defied,
Tho’ antiphon, blubber, and others we’ve tried,
But if he’ll now take this prescription I’m sure,
He will effect quite a wonderful cure –

Chorus

Stew! Stew! Stew! Just take a spoonful or two,
Stew! Stew! Stew! Curried seal’s very nice with a little boiled rice,
So Do! Do! Do! Ah! Why do you look so blue?
For if with you it don’t agree, you can bring it up you see,
With Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

Sledging is crook on the icy plateau,
Wind 70 an hour and at 30 below
My cheeks and my ears frost-bitten have been,
And frost-bites were many on my never-been-seen,
Bites on my fingers – and bites on my toes,
Bites on my – Oh yes! And also my nose. –

Chorus

Oh! Oh! Oh! There’s a crevasse all covered with snow,
Oo! Oo! Oooo! Say prayers that we all get over it safely,
Oo! Oo! Oo! Good heavens we nearly went thro’
And if you say the word "yensen", I’ll write to Dr Nausen,
And tell him too, too! Too!

[Page 59]

The "Night Perker" (Holy City)

Last night I was night-watching,
I dreamt a dream so fair,
Me-thought I was in the kitchen, beside the cook’s perks there,
I heard old Cupid snoring and then there was a bang,
As down came plates and dishes, with a discordant clang,
Me thought, the voice of Whetter, above the din so loud rang,

Chorus

He’s perking ‘em, He’s perkin’, ‘em, hold on to cook’s perks tight
Where are they? Where are they? He’s on the cook all night.

Then once again the scene was changed the snores have ceased to be,
The hour is nearly four o’clock, J.C. was there with me;
And as he stood there talking, the time so slowly passed,
I said to him, "Pray go to bunk, or things at you’ll be cast,
Don’t wake the others sleepers, give them a chance I say,
You’ll in the head be hit with boots, and swiftly pass away,
Then into bunk he toddled, until the break of day.

Chorus

Oh! rise and shine! Oh rise and shine! The day has now began
They won’t get up they won’t get up. So band on the pots and pans,
They won’t get up they won’t get up, So bang on the pots and pans.

[Page 60]

(Sue Sue Sue)

I have some finnesks a wonderful pair,
Now scarce a week and they’d lost all their hair
Tramped a few miles of soft plateau snow,
Track me by hair-tufts where’er I go,
I took them off in the tent one day,
Two voices loudly in protest say,

Chorus
Phew! Phew! phew! those finnesko are far from new
Phew! phew! phew! Their hairs are moulting into the hoosh pot.
Phew! phew! phew! they nearly make the air turn blue
If their weight you want to save, why not give them a shave?
When they’re new! new! new!

We had a sledge-meter a nicely made toy,
Consulted it often for miles ‘twas our joy
Weighed over two stone, was as heavy as a rock
For its gear wheels were cribbed from the post office clock
We buried it upright when its last spoke was gone.
The wind turned it idly, we heard its last song.

Chorus
Ping! ping! ping! I wasn’t made for that sort of thing
Ping! ping! ping! those sashugi fairly tore my poor light ribs out
Ping! ping! ping! my rim is only made of tin
When my spokes began to go, you did your best I know
With shing! shing! shing!

The next is of grub whivh we loudly applaud,
And for its fine get up high honors award,
The pem was delicious, just suited our taste
Gave us new life for the trials we faced,
The cocoa compound was all we desired,
And the fine luncheon ration was more than admired.

Chorus
Hoosh! Hoosh! Hoosh! when the long sledging day is o’er
Hoosh! Hoosh! Hoosh! There is nothing to compare and warm your toes like
Hoosh! Hoosh! Hoosh! when in the blizzard drift you push
And when your strength begins to fail, what’s your best friend on the trail,
Why Hoosh! Hoosh! Hoosh!

[Page 61]

The Merry Sledgers (Why do you think I look so Gay)

Why do you think I look so gay
I’m thinking of our Xmas day,
Dish after dish went out of sight,
Hoyle said "Are you plugged", I said, "Not quite"
But I’m full to the neck and it feels alright"

Chorus
So we were merry drinking tanglefoot for sherry
So we were merry, we’d done 400 then.

Why do you think my mo’s turned white,
No, you’re wrong it was not fright,
‘Twas Xmas day Lucky Depot to boot
After a dose of tangle-foot
I took crampon coc’ and got absolute-

Chorus
-ly merry, It’s better than whiskey wine or sherry,
And we were merry, we’d done 400 then.

Why do you think I look so glum
I’m thinking of our dam ‘quick run’
You really ought to have heard us cuss
When we were in the ‘sarcophagus’
But of course we said it might be wuss

Chorus
So all be merry, even when you’re buried
Oh be merry we’d done 200 then

Why do you think I look so gay
I took my helmet off one day
It was in the tent just after lunch
They said you haven’t done that for months
It’s hardly a face tho’ it might have been once

Chorus
Oh! be merry, on the pail your face gets hairy
Oh! be merry, we’d done 500 then.

Why do you think my hair’s so long
Well I’m getting to the end of my song
I’ve turned poet quite sublime,
Like Old Dad it’s the Antarctic clime,
Every night the tent’s filled with rime,

Chorus
So all be merry, in the tent wear your burberry
All be merry, we’ve got 600 done.

[Page 62]

I explain how to taste and sugar it, and give a proper boil,
And after straining thro’ a sock, you’ve brewed the famous Hoyle.
Again quoth he "Then nineteen twelve is of a truth its date"
"But the priners alcohol you’ve used was only methylate.
The midnight sun he seemed to dance, all wavery was our sight
So into bags we drifted and toggled for the night.

And on the morrow we awoke, fully refreshed and strong
We set off at a swinging bat, singing our sledging song,
The miles fair whizzed by one by one, we never seemed to tire
Bob said ‘twas the Xmas pudding, Azzie the Gut-rot fire.
Anyhow what’er it was, we marched both day and night,
Hauling our sledge across the snows with 40 miles in sight
And I guess that’s near a record for the great white Southern trail
It was the Xmas feast that did it, and here ends my Xmas tale.

But stay friend it’s Xmas ever to-day, Come an ‘ave a nip?
I knows a quiet parlor, just the place for a sober [in different pen] Sip Cit (citizen)
Yes I know you’ll come, I know you won’t refuse,
You’re a broad minded man, Sir, I knew you had my views
What’s yours Shandy? Two shandies Miss and long’-uns please
Thanks! Oh! Right Oh, You payin’, I’m a little short of fees.
Let’s clink our glasses, no heel taps on this toast,
The men that roam the icy South, way out on the lonely trail,
The men that know how to rough it and laugh, the men that never fail".

Say Miss, fill’em up, all beer this time, my shout friend,
I’ve found a stray sprat a hidin’, alone in a pocket end,
Now up with glass and drain in a draught, don’t man spill on the floor,
A toast we’ll sing to the "Blizzard King" and the Kingdom he rules o’er.

J.F.H. & Co.

[Page 63]

The fearsome thing was finished, I hid it in a bag,
Which served us for a pudding cloth, a dirty looking rag.
So I puts it in the cooker, and makes the primus roar,
‘Twas hard to watch it boiling, our hunger panged us sore;
With watches as at a prize-fight, at the finish of a bout,
Four minute rounds we ticked off, then the pudding coming out.
With the savoury steam that rises, a vision faintly blends,
We’re home again with dear ones, with pals and distant friends
The vision fades quite dream-like, back to the icy South,
The pudding lay before us, we gape with hungry mouth
Then sitting us around it, - it turned out quite a treat –
It began to vanish quickly, then more slowly did we eat
Says I with cookly satisfaction, you’ve plugged ‘em well plum-duff
And as a jest I asks the rest, if they had had enough.
Never a word they answered, but lay down on the floor,
And, as dying of starvation, they feebly signalled more.
Now I knew they didn’t want it, and their hunger was "Sham pain"
So methinks as I have cooked enough, I needs must do the same.
Then of a sudden as I lay there, heaving my poor pals pine
I call aloud, "Come cheer up lads, Now how about the wine?"
Now when you see men lying round with ills and groans so tragic
Then each looks at me, and me at each, and each at one another,
Why yes by Gum, the wine’s to come! And we winked [in different pen] at one another one at the other
So our I brings the fiery juice, which I’d hidden warm and snug
And measures out three equal shares into each grimy mug.
Then up and speaks our Bobby Bage, "Your glasses charge – ‘The King’",
And scarcely had he said it, when loud our cheers did ring;
They seemed to echo far and wide across that lone plateau,
The blizzard winds they whirled them to the limits of the snow.
When the mugs had finished clinking – we drank full well & long –
I could read it in their faces that there was something wrong;
Yet still another toast we drank – "To our comrades of the snows",
To the men that sledge Antarctic wastes; and brave its icy woes.
With bated breath, our noses held, and faces all awry,
We took a gulp of the fiery stuff and each tho’t he w’d die.
Then up and spoke our Azimuth Webb, "A noble draught" quote he,
"It tangles alike both head and foot, and scarcely can I see.
"Pray tell me of its vintage, it seems without compare"
"It’s Gut-rot-Hoyle 1912" a vintage very rare"
Then I tells them all about it, how the flaming stuff was brewed,
How I mixed the primus alcohol, with the raisins I had chewed.

[Page 64]

And so I’ve dined from Horn to Cape and up Alaska way,
But the finest, funniest sinner I’ve dined was on that Xmas day.

So the grub and gear assembled, I get to work at once,
And scrapes the mugs and hoosh-pot, the first wash-up for months.
On the annulus snow-melter, I next bestow some care,
And scrapes from out its innards a pound of greasy hair.
Then I pumps hard up the primus and makes the fat go fizz,
And as floats off its aroma, I heard sighs of "Gee whiz!!"
For when you’ve toiled on rations short, all day and half the night,
You feel quite hollow, lose some weight, but gain an appetite.

The first course finnaly appeared, we didn’t mind the order,
The "savoury" introduced the feast, in place of the "hors d’oeuvre".
As quick as I had served it with a gulp t‘was out of sight,
For there were courses fifteen, and some were but a bite.
Next came the soup called "ox-tale", ‘twas a tale about the ox,
But lor’ ‘twas just as good a soup, as many a turtle mocks,
And as it gurgled down inside came murmurs of "All right!".
And ere the click of half a tick, likewise it went from sight,
But scarcely were they dished-up, when they too went from sight.
My eyes, they blinked and then grew dim, I tho’t I had snow blight.
For whatever I exhibited, It faded from my sight.
Says I, "I’ll make a filling plug, a double-barrelled-hoosh,
But strike me pink ere you cd wink, it went without a push
At last I made them Spell-Oh, I never was a glutton,
So told them for the next course, their burberrys to unbutton.
And as I racks my mind to think of something tough and wooden
I felt a voice within me say ‘Why not a Xmas puddin’.
So while they sat around a talking, of home and those so fair,
I started to concoct one, from the ration that was spare.
So I takes a fullish ration, and grabs the bag of perks,
And picks out all the ‘pemmi’ – A cook is up to lurks,
Then I puts in butter and raisins, with just sufficient snow
And a dose of cocoa compound, plus sugar and glaxo.
The butter-scotch was handy, it might improve the taste,
I sniffs and stirs it round and round and sort of takes a taste,
Perspiring from exertion, it had a vigorous mix,
My fingers felt frost-bitten, so I gives ‘em frequent licks.
Then whatever else was handy went in that Xmas dough.
Not omitting hair from sleeping-bags and moulting finneskoe

[Page 65]

Christmas Day on the Trail

I always likes Xmas, reminds me of the trail,
And, if you’d like to listen, I’ll tell you a Xmas tale,
It happened down Antarctic way, down in the frozen South,
It’s hardly a tale, it’s the truth, Sir, a lie scarce passed my mouth.
We’d all been out a sledging, three hundred miles from home,
The toughest time I’ve spent, Sir, tho’ in many lands I roam.
There was Azzie Webb and Old Bob Boge, and me they styled as Hoyle
No better chaps I’ve met, Sir, they didn’t mind the toil;
Chaps as wouldn’t see a pal starve for a trifling feed,
Them’s the chaps I like, Sir, a frieceds a friend in need,
We travelled thro’ a hell, oft frozen to the core,
Frost-bitten and snow-blinded, them blizzards hit us sore.
We came at last on a plateau waste, more desolate than the rest,
And we called it "Lucky Depot", that’s the way we sledgers jest.
Of all the days in the year too, ‘twas December twenty fifth,
And we tho’t of Home and Xmas, so I proposed us all a gift.

Says I to Bob, "Say Chum, there’s good grub on behind,
It’s easier to carry it inside than tow it there, you’ll find".
Now the grub we’d lugged for many a mile and groaned at every inch,
We’d run ourselves on rations half, them as has some reason,
Says he, "(Ahem), unless the King we toast, I’m sure it wd be treason
And so from out our meagre store, a double ration took,
He added that "As you’ve proposed, none better to be cook".
To obey was duty, says I "That’s just my line",
The straight away he orders gives as how to brew the wine.
We did the thing in style too, and a Menu did prepare,
And a lengthy programme we drew up of dishes rich and rare,
And we wrote it all in English, French isn’t in my line,
I likes to know what I’m eatin’ when I’m about to dine.

Now I’ve dined in many places, but never such as these,
It’s like the "Gates of Heaven" when you find you’ve lost the Keys.
I’ve dined with Kings and Emperors, perhaps you scarce believe
I But even they do funny things when round comes Xmas Eve;
I’ve dined with an iguana on a lovely desert Isle
And in the shade of the wattle, by a maiden’s winsome smile;
I’ve grubbed at a threepenny hash-house, I’ve dined off a counter lunch,
And dined at a slap up Café where only the "Swanker" munch;

[Page 66]

Menu

Christmas 1912 Dinner

Lat 69 °33.5’S. Long 145°19’E
("Lucky Depot" 200m)

Hors d’Oeuvre
Raisin Gliders
Soup
"Ox Tale"
Joints (Poultry
Buttered Hoosh
Sweets
Christmas Pudding
Ramp Sauce
Chocolate Sashugi
Ices
Neve Cream
Dessert
Almonds and Raisins
Butter Scotch
Plasmon Wafers and Butter
Savoury
Angels on Runners
Crampon Cocoa &
Water Perks
Wine
Tanglefoot "Hoyle 1912"
Cigarettes and Cigar
TOASTS

"The King"
Other Sledging Parties
Our Supporting Party

First Course 2-15 p.m. Sleeping bags – midnight.

[Page 67]

Southern Sledging Song (tune "Sailing Sailing)
Hauling
1. An Explorer’s life is the life for me
O’er the ice to roam, a life so free
O’er snow-field wide and by barrier wall
With comrade here, the sledge we haul
But tho’ ev’ry inch we fight, it is our keen delight
Thro’ untrodden snows to steer, the course to us so dear
"Send me your strongest, those who never fail,
I’m the Blizzard King of the Southern Trail"

Chorus Hauling, toiling, tireless on we tramp
        O’er vast plateau, sashugi high, o’er deep crevasse and ramp
        Hauling, toiling, thro’ drift and blizzard gale
        It has to be done, so we make of it fun
        We men of the Southern Trail.

2. For months we’ve toiled to reach the "Pole"
Thro’ the icy blast to the envied goal
At last both time and food we lack
We see in front our fate – turn back –
And glazing o’er the slopes where lay one buried hopes
Comes a scornful echo, from off the distant snow
"Send me your strongest, those who never fail
For I’m the Blizzard King of the Southern Trail"

       Chorus Hauling, toiling, onward e’er we tramp etc.

3. With ling’ring step ere the trail’s retraced,
We gaze across thy unconquered waste,
And ere we tread we vow to wrest,
The secret from the icy breast,
And tho’ we mat retreat, we’ll use from each defeat
As we vow to strive again, there answers that refain
"Send me your strongest those who never fail
I’m the Blizzard King of the Southern Trail".

Chorus Hauling, toiling, homeward back we tramp
        O’er vast plateau, sashugi high, o’er deep crevasse and ramp.
        Hauling, toiling, thro’ drift and blizzard gale
        Our best we have done, so we won’t look glum
        We men of the Southern Trail.

[Transcribed by David Lambert for the State Library of New South Wales]