sts to go overboard every minute.
This was the worst, I think, lasting about two hours. At 6 A.M., still
blowing very hard but squalls less violent, gradually made shelter
during the morning...."

On February 8 the weather improved after 1 A.M. The gusts were less
violent and the lulls were of longer duration. At 9 A.M. there was only
a gentle breeze. We steamed in towards the boat harbour and signalled
for the launch to come off with the ten members of the shore-party. The
latter had been instructed to remain at the Hut until the vessel was
ready to sail. Here, while the gale had been in full career, they had
helped to secure enough seal and penguin-meat to keep the Relief Party
and their dogs for another year.

The good-byes were brief while the launch discharged the men and their
belongings. Instructions were handed over to Madigan directing him to
follow the course believed to have been taken by Dr. Mawson and to
make an exhaustive search, commencing as soon as the 'Aurora' left
Commonwealth Bay. Madigan gave me a letter containing a report of the
work done by the party which had left on the 25th.

It appears that they had been confined in Aladdin's Cave for twenty-four
hours by dense drift and then, in moderate drift, made four miles to the
south-east. Here they camped and were not able to move for thirty-six
hours in a high wind with thick snow.

On the 28th the drift decreased in amount and, though it was only
possible to see a few hundred yards and crevasses were frequent, they
kept a course of east 30 degrees south for six miles. A snow-mound was
built and on top of it were placed provisions and a note giving the
bearing and distance from Aladdin's Cave.

In the afternoon the wind subsided and it became clear. Eight miles on
the same course brought them to their farthest camp, twenty-three miles
from the Hut. A mound of eleven feet was erected here, provisions and a
note being left and some black bunting wound among the snow-blocks. The
depot was on a ridge and, with glasses, several miles could be swept to
the south-east.

The party consisted of McLean, Hodgeman and Hurley.

De la Motte and Hannam took the Relief Party ashore in the launch and,
as soon as they had returned--at 11.30 A.M.--we steamed out of the bay.
The weather had calmed and there were light airs and a smooth sea.

The members of the Relief Party were as follows: C. T. Madigan (leader),
R. Bage, F. H. Bickerton, A. J. Hodgeman, Dr. A.