in this cave
for almost two years, subsisting upon what they could catch. Decayed
tussock grass, a foot in depth, now covers the floor, showing that some
attempt had been made to improve the comfort of the place, while bones
lying strewn about in all directions indicate that gulls, penguins and
cormorants must have supplied a good deal of their food. It is presumed
that some of them made a journey to North Head periodically to look out
for relief, as a well-defined track to that point is still visible in
places.

The tale, however, has its tragic side, for the woman died on the very
day when the rescuing ship called at the island. She was buried on the
isthmus, not far from our Shack. One would think that death was rather
a relief from such an existence as this unfortunate woman must have
endured, but, at the same time, it seems hard that she did not live to
participate in the joy of deliverance.

We ate our lunch and had a smoke, after which we decided to walk
homewards along "Feather Bed" terrace. A few minutes after leaving the
cave, Sawyer and Sandell caught three young ducks, which they carried
back, intending to rear them, but they died several days later. A weary
tramp brought us, thoroughly tired, to the Shack, where Hamilton had an
excellent meal awaiting us.

The weather during January was rather trying. Precipitation in the
form of either rain, hail, sleet or snow occurred on twenty-six days,
sometimes all forms being experienced on the same day. As a result, the
supply of water was well maintained; in fact, the amount caught exceeded
the consumption and we finished the month with the tank almost full.
Gales were experienced on eight days, the maximum wind-force being
forty-two miles an hour. The sky was mostly heavily clouded or
absolutely overcast and on many days the sun was not seen. Fog hung
about the hills almost continuously, and driving mist accompanied the
northerly winds.

January 24 was a glorious day, calm and sunny, with a maximum
temperature of 51.3 degrees F. The habit of former days induced Sandell
and myself to have a dip in the surf, but as the temperature of the
water was about 42 degrees F., we stayed in as many seconds. The mean
temperature for the month was 44.9 degrees F.; the minimum being 35.5
degrees F.

My first view of the island when the 'Aurora' arrived in December 1911
left rather an agreeable impression. The day of our approach was marked
by fine calm weather and the da