winds south of 60 degrees S. latitude were mainly
south-easterly, causing a continuous streaming of the pack from east to
west. Our obvious expedient on encountering the ice was to steam in the
same direction as this drift. It had been decided before setting out
that we would confine ourselves to the region west of the meridian
of 158 degrees E. longitude. So it was intended to reach the pack,
approximately in that meridian, and, should we be repulsed, to work
steadily to the west in expectation of breaking through to the land.

Regarding the ice conditions over the whole segment of the unknown tract
upon which our attack was directed, very little was known. Critically
examined, the reports of the American squadron under the command of
Wilkes were highly discouraging. D'Urville appeared to have reached
his landfall without much hindrance by ice, but that was a fortunate
circumstance in view of the difficulties Wilkes had met. At the western
limit of the area we were to explore, the Germans in the 'Gauss' had
been irrevocably trapped in the ice as early as the month of February.
At the eastern limit, only the year before, the 'Terra Nova' of Scott's
expedition, making a sally into unexplored waters, had sighted new land
almost on the 158th meridian, but even though it was then the end of
summer, and the sea was almost free from the previous season's ice, they
were not able to reach the land on account of the dense pack.

In the early southern summer, at the time of our arrival, the ice
conditions were expected to be at their worst. This followed from the
fact that not only would local floes be encountered, but also a vast
expanse of pack fed by the disintegrating floes of the Ross Sea, since,
between Cape Adare and the Balleny Islands, the ice drifting to the
north-west under the influence of the south-east winds is arrested in
an extensive sheet. On the other hand, were we to wait for the later
season, no time would remain for the accomplishment of the programme
which had been arranged. So we were forced to accept things as we found
them, being also prepared to make the most of any chance opportunity.

In planning the Expedition, the probability of meeting unusually heavy
pack had been borne in mind, and the three units into which the land
parties and equipment were divided had been disposed so as to facilitate
the landing of a base with despatch, and, maybe, under difficult
circumstances. Further, in case the ship we