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ahead at the full length of the Alpine rope. When they arrived eventually at Cape Evans it was dark and blowing a blizzard. They were lost on the Cape for some time, but eventually found the hut and were in safety.

On May 1 Cherry-Garrard, Demetri, Williamson, and I returned to Cape Evans with the two dog teams. There we started to settle in for the winter and gradually took up the winter routine.

Everything was well at the hut at Cape Evans and work, scientific and otherwise, had been proceeding as usual. We early realised that for the sake of everyone concerned the routine followed in the previous year must be continued in this as far as possible. It was a necessity for us to keep up our work and interests and exercise, so as to avoid slackness and depression and to keep fit and useful through the dark months. The North Bay had only frozen to within half a mile of the hut and had been continually freezing and blowing out.

The seven mules, which had been given by the Indian Government to Captain Scott to enable him to carry on further exploration in the second year, were in excellent condition. Lashly had received certain instructions from Captain Oates when Evans' party left them on the Plateau at 87°37′. He had been in entire charge of the mules and continued so throughout the winter. Their condition throughout was splendid and spoke volumes for the care with which he looked after them. These mules were suggested to Captain Scott by Captain Oates, and they justified his hopes in every way. The mules had been exercised regularly whenever the weather permitted, and