Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/186

us a road to the north. Soon after starting snow began to fall, and that, combined with a slight up-grade, made our sledges very heavy. About noon we rounded a point (Cape Mossyface), on which we found a quantity of lichen, and came on to a smooth glacier, of easy gradient, and snow-covered, which I hoped came from Mt. Melbourne; but the weather was so thick with snow we could see nothing, so camped for lunch in the hope of its clearing, as I had no wish to pull the heavy sledges up a cul-de-sac. This evening so much snow fell that we had to remain in camp, being unable to see ten yards. Snowing all night.

January 11.—Still snowing as hard as ever at 5.30 a.m., but by 7.30 the clouds began to break, and by 9 we were on the march. Snow very soft and deep, making pulling very heavy, so that we had to relay. All six of us had difficulty in getting one sledge along. We then all put on ski, and were able to get along better as we broke a regular trail along which the sledge ran.

The snow and mist cleared away about 10 a.m., giving us a magnificent view up a large glacier, the main body of which seemed to flow past the west slope of Mt. Melbourne. A few miles south of Mt. Melbourne and on the west side of the main glacier, a tributary glacier, which we named from its shape the Boomerang, flows in. In the afternoon a S.W. wind improved the surface and each team was able to manage its own sledge. A lovely night, but all hands very tired.

January 12.—Woke at 3 a.m. to find strong wind, with drift. The snow ceased a little while we had breakfast, only to come down harder than ever afterwards, and as