design, produced a very satisfactory contrivance. It consisted of a
large drift-tight box, fitted on the windward side with a long metal
cone, tapering to an aperture three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The
drift-laden air entered the aperture, its speed was checked on entering
the capacious body of the gauge and consequently the snow fell to the
bottom of the box and the air passed out behind through a trap-door.
The catch was taken out periodically through a bolted lid, the snow was
melted, the resulting water measured and its weight calculated.

[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]

The drift gauge

In thick drifts, one's face inside the funnel of the burberry helmet
became rapidly packed with snow, which, by the warmth of the skin and
breath, was changed into a mask of ice. This adhered firmly to the rim
of the helmet and to the beard and face. The mask became so complete
that one had to clear away obstructions continually from the eyes. It
was not easy to remove the casing of ice, outside in the wind,
because this could only be done slowly, with bare fingers exposed. An
experienced man, once inside the Hut, would first see that the ice
was broken along the rim of the helmet; otherwise, when it came to be
hastily dragged off, the hairs of the beard would follow as well. As
soon as the helmet was off the head, the icicles hanging on the beard
and glazing the eyelashes were gradually thawed by the fingers and
removed. The above treatment was learned by experience.

The abrasion-effects produced by the impact of the snow particles were
astonishing. Pillars of ice were cut through in a few days, rope was
frayed, wood etched and metal polished. Some rusty dog-chains were
exposed to it, and, in a few days, they had a definite sheen. A deal
box, facing the wind, lost all its painted bands and in a fortnight was
handsomely marked; the hard, knotty fibres being only slightly attacked,
whilst the softer, pithy laminae were corroded to a depth of one-eighth
of an inch.

The effect of constant abrasion upon the snow's surface is to harden it,
and, finally, to carve ridges known as sastrugi. Of these much will be
said when recounting our sledging adventures, because they increase so
much the difficulties of travelling.

Even hard, blue ice may become channelled and pitted by the action of
drift. Again, both neve and ice may receive a wind-polish which makes
them very slippery.

Of the effect of wind and drift upon rock, there was