but while we were depot-laying and waiting for the sea to freeze over at
Hut Point, no less than 404 hours of blizzard were recorded in one
month--March. Think of it, well over half the month was blizzard, with
its consequent discomfort and danger. The blizzard which nearly caused
the loss of the Cape Crozier party measured a wind force up to 84 miles
an hour; no wonder the canvas roof of the stone hut there was swept away!

Our minimum temperature at the hut meteorological station was 50 degrees
below zero in July, 1911, and the maximum temperature during the winter
occurred in June when the thermometer stood as high as +19 degrees.

Our ten ponies stood the winter very well, all things being considered.
One nearly died with cramp, but he pulled round in extraordinary fashion
after keeping Oates and myself up all night nursing him. In spite of the
names we assigned to the animals, largely on account of their being
presented to us by certain schools, institutions, and individuals, the
ponies were called by names conferred on them by the sailors and those
who led them out for exercise. The ten animals that now survived were
James Pigg, Christopher, Victor, Nobby, Jehu, Michael, Snatcher, Bones,
Snippets, and a Manchurian animal called Chinaman, who behaved very badly
in that he was always squealing, biting, and kicking the other ponies. A
visitor to the stables, if he lent a hand to stir up the blubber which
was usually cooking there, found himself generally welcome and certain to
be entertained. Oates and Meares, his constant companions, had both
served through the South African War, and had many delightful stories to
tell of their experiences in this campaign; their anecdotes are not all
printable, but no matter. Of Oates it is correct to say that he was more
popular with the seamen than any other officer. He understood these men
perfectly and could get any amount of work out of them, this was a great
advantage, because he only had his Russian groom permanently to assist