loads against the inevitable bumping,
jolting, and capsizing, and lashing tank-like contrivances of waterproof
canvas on, to contain the component units of food, another set of people
would be fastening light wicker or venesta boxes athwart the sledge ends
for carrying instruments and such perishable things as the primus stoves
and methylated spirit bottles. These sledges were under the particular
charge of Petty Officer Evans, and he took delightful pride in his
office. What little gray dawn there was enabled him gleefully to inspect
the completed sledges as they stood ready in their special groups outside
our hut.

The more general type would be the 12 ft. sledge, constructed of light
elm with hickory runners. On it were secured venesta wood trays for the
tins of paraffin, usually in front, the aforesaid capacious canvas tank,
and behind everything the oblong instrument box surmounted by light
wooden chocks for holding the aluminium cooker.

All sledges had small manilla rope spans, secured in most seamanlike
fashion, to take the towing strain and throw it fairly through the
structure of these light but wonderfully strong sledges.

While the sledging equipment advanced, Bowers, aided by Cherry-Garrard,
sorted out the rations, which he weighed and packed in the most
business-like manner. Bowers was always well served, for he had the happy
knack of enlisting volunteers for whatever his particular purpose called.

By September 1 Scott must have felt that no portion of his preparations
was incomplete, for the travelling equipment had been taken in hand with
a thoroughness that was the outcome of zeal and thoughtful attention to
detail.

Previous to the departure of the large caravan for the Polar journey, a
spring journey was proposed for the purpose of laying a small depot at
Corner Camp and generally reconnoitring. On account of the low spring
temperatures no animals were used for this trip, which was carried out by
Gran, Forde, and myself.

We started on ski, pulling a heavy load of over six hundred pounds. We
marched from eight o'clock in the morning until nine at night, with a
short interval for lunch, and that first day out we covered twenty miles
and arrived on the Great Ice Barrier at the close of our march. The
Barrier in its bleak loneliness is probably the most desolate portion of
the earth's surface, with the possible exception of the high plateau
which forms the ice cap of the great Antarctic mountain