Main Base PartyDr. D. Mawson Commander of the Expedition.Lieut. R. Bage Astronomer, Assistant Magnetician andRecorder of Tides.C. T. Madigan Meteorologist.Lieut. B. E. S. Ninnis In charge of Greenland dogs.Dr. X. Mertz In charge of Greenland dogs.Dr. A. L. McLean Chief Medical Officer, Bacteriologist.F. H. Bickerton In charge of air-tractor sledge.A. J. Hodgeman Cartographer and Sketch Artist.J. F. Hurley Official Photographer.E. N. Webb Chief Magnetician.P. E. Correll Mechanic and Assistant Physicist.J. G. Hunter Biologist.C. F. Laseron Taxidermist and Biological Collector.F. L. Stillwell Geologist.H. D. Murphy In charge of Expedition stores.W. H. Hannam Wireless Operator and Mechanic.J. H. Close Assistant Collector.Dr. L. A. Whetter Surgeon.
Western Base PartyF. Wild Leader.A. D. Watson Geologist.Dr. S. E. Jones Medical Officer.C. T. Harrisson Biologist.M. H. Moyes Meteorologist.A. L. Kennedy Magnetician.C. A. Hoadley Geologist.G. Dovers Cartographer.In addition to these were the following gentlemen who accompaniedthe Expedition for a portion of the time only or who joined later.S. N. Jeffryes Wireless Operator, who relievedW. H. Hannam during 1913.E. R. Waite (Curator, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch),Biologist, first Sub-Antarctic cruise of'Aurora'.Professor T. T. Flynn (Hobart University), Biologist, secondSub-Antarctic cruise of 'Aurora'.J. van Waterschoot Marine Artist, second Antarctic cruise ofvan der Gracht 'Aurora'.Captain James Davis Whaling authority, second Antarctic cruiseof 'Aurora'.C. C. Eitel Secretary, second Antarctic cruise of 'Aurora'.N. C. Toucher, and later Served in the capacity of Chief OfficerF. D. Fletcher on the 'Aurora' during the earlier voyages.
[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]Signatures of members of the land parties in Antarctica and atMacquarie Island
[Accounts of the members of the expedition, in alphabetical order.]G. F. AINSWORTH, thirty** years of age, single, was born in Sydney,New South Wales. His services were loaned to the expedition by theCommonwealth Meteorological Bureau, Melbourne. For a period of twoyears he acted as leader of the Macquarie Island Party, carrying outthe duties of Meteorologist. In the summer of 1913-1914 he visitedthe Antarctic during the final cruise of the 'Aurora'.
** The ages refer to the date of joining the Expedition and are butapproximate.R. BAGE, twenty-three years of age, single, was a graduate inEngineering of Melbourne University and a lieutenant in the RoyalAustralian Engineers. A member of the Main Base Party (Adelie Land)and leader of the Southern Sledging Party, he remained in theAntarctic for two years. During the first year he was in charge ofchronometers, astronomical observations and tidal records, andthroughout the second year continued the magnetic work and lookedafter stores.F. H. BICKERTON, F.R.G.S., twenty-two years of age, single, was bornat Oxford, England. Had studied engineering: joined the Expeditionas Electrical Engineer and Motor Expert. A member of the Main BaseParty and leader of the Western Sledging Party, he remained in theAntarctic for two years, during which time he was in charge of theair-tractor sledge, and was engineer to the wireless station. Fora time, during the second year, he was in complete charge of thewireless plant.J. H. BLAIR, twenty-four years of age, single, was born in Scotland.For five years he served with the Loch Line of Glasgow as apprenticeand third mate. As second mate he joined A. Currie and Company, ofMelbourne, in the Australian-Indian trade, reaching the rank of firstmate, in which capacity he acted during the final Antarctic cruise ofthe 'Aurora' in the summer of 1913-14.L. R. BLAKE, twenty-one years of age, single, was born in England,but had lived for many years in Queensland previous to joining theExpedition. Before accompanying the Macquarie Island Party asGeologist and Cartographer, he obtained leave from the GeologicalSurvey Department, Brisbane. He visited the Antarctic during thefinal cruise of the 'Aurora' in the summer of 1913-1914.J. H. Close, F.R.G.S., forty years of age, married, was born inSydney, New South Wales. During the South African War he saw activeservice in Rhodesia, and at the time of the Expedition's departure wasa teacher of physical culture at Sydney. A member of the Main BaseParty (Adelie Land) and of several sledging parties, he spent twosummers and one winter in the Antarctic.P. E. CORRELL, nineteen years of age, single, was a student inScience of the Adelaide University. He joined the Expeditionas Mechanician and Assistant Physicist. He was a member of the MainBase Party accompanying the Eastern Coastal Party during theirsledging journey. He spent three summers and one winter in theAntarctic, acting as colour photographer during the final cruise ofthe 'Aurora'.J. E. DAVIS, twenty-eight years of age, single, was master of the'Aurora' and Second-in-Command of the Expedition. Born in Ireland andeducated in England, he served his apprenticeship on the Liverpoolowned sailing-ship, 'Celtic Chief', obtaining his certificateas second mate before joining the barque 'Westland' trading betweenEngland and New Zealand. His next post was that of second officer onthe training ship 'Port Jackson', following which he joined Sir ErnestShackleton's Expedition (1907-1909) as chief officer of the 'Nimrod',acting subsequently as master. Throughout the whole period of theAustralasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914) Captain J. K. Daviscommanded the 'Aurora' during five cruises.G. DOVERS, twenty-one years of age, single, of Sydney, New South Wales,was completing his term for Licensed Surveyor in the service of theCommonwealth Government when he joined the Expedition. He was inthe Antarctic for two summers and one winter, being stationed with theWestern Party (Queen Mary Land). A member of several sledging parties,he acted as Cartographer to the party which reached Gaussberg.F. J. GILLIES, thirty-five years of age, single, was born at Cardiff,Wales. He served his apprenticeship as an engineer on the steamers ofJohn Shearman and Company and P. Baker and Company of Cardiff. Forsix years previous to joining the Expedition he was in the Indian trade.Throughout the five cruises of the 'Aurora' between 1911 and 1914 F. J.Gillies was Chief Engineer.P. GRAY, twenty-two years of age, single, was born and educated inEngland. He served on the 'Worcester' as cadet captain for eighteenmonths and as apprentice on the 'Archibald Russell', of Glasgow, andin the New Zealand Shipping Company. In 1909 he entered the Peninsulaand Oriental Company and reached the rank of third officer, joiningthe Australasian Antarctic Expedition as second officer of the 'Aurora'.Throughout five cruises, from 1911 to 1914, he served in this capacity.H. HAMILTON, twenty-six years of age, single, was born at Napier, NewZealand. Graduate of the Otago University. Besides being employed onthe New Zealand Geological Survey, he acted as Entomological Collectorto the Dominion Museum at Wellington. A member of the MacquarieIsland Party, of which he was the Biologist for two years, H. Hamiltonvisited the Antarctic during the final cruise of the 'Aurora' in thesummer of 1913-1914.W. H. HANNAM, twenty-six years of age, single, was of Sydney, NewSouth Wales, and joined the Expedition in charge of the arrangementsfor a wireless telegraphic system. He was in the Antarctic at theMain Base (Adelie Land) for two summers and a winter, and wassuccessful in transmitting wireless messages for a short time during1912 through Macquarie Island to Australia, assistant magnetician fora time.C. T. HARRISSON, forty-three years of age, married, was born inHobart, Tasmania. For many years previous to joining the Expeditionhe had done illustrative and artistic work and had been engaged on asurvey and in botanical and other scientific observations on the westcoast of Tasmania. Stationed with the Western Base (Queen Mary Land)he acted as Biologist and Artist, accompanying F. Wild on his maineastern journey and several other sledging parties.C. A. HOADLEY, twenty-four years of age, single, was a graduate inMining Engineering of Melbourne University. A member of F. Wild'sWestern Party (Queen Mary Land), he took part in several sledgingjourneys and was Geologist of the party who explored westwards toGaussberg.A. J. HODGEMAN, twenty-six years of age, single, was born atAdelaide, South Australia. For four years he was an articledarchitect, and for five years a draughtsman in the Works and BuildingsDepartment, Adelaide. A member of the Main Base Party (Adelie Land),he took part in several sledging journeys, and throughout two yearsin the Antarctic acted in the capacity of Cartographer and SketchArtist, as well as that of Assistant Meteorologist.J. G. HUNTER, twenty-three years of age, single, was a graduate inScience of Sydney University, New South Wales. A member of the MainBase Party (Adelie Land) he carried on the work of Biologist duringtwo summers and one winter; and in the same capacity accompaniedthe 'Aurora' in her final summer cruise 1911-1914.J. F. HURLEY, twenty-four years of age, single, was of Sydney, NewSouth Wales. He had been the recipient of many amateur and professionalawards for photographic work before joining the Expedition. At theMain Base he obtained excellent photographic and cinematographic recordsand was one of the three members of the Southern Sledging Party. Hewas also present on the final cruise of the 'Aurora'.S. N. JEFFRYES, twenty-seven years of age, single, of Towoomba,Queensland, was a qualified operator of the Australasian WirelessCompany. During the second year (1913) he took W. H. Hannam's placein charge of the wireless plant, wintering at the Main Base (AdelieLand).S. E. JONES, twenty-four years of age, single, was a graduate inMedicine of Sydney University, New South Wales. A member and MedicalOfficer of F. Wild's Western Base (Queen Mary Land), he took part inseveral sledging journeys during 1912 and was leader of the party whoexplored westward to Gaussberg.A. L. KENNEDY, twenty-two years of age, single, was a student inScience of Adelaide University, South Australia. Receiving specialtuition, he acted as Magnetician at the Western Base (Queen MaryLand) during the year 1912. He was a member of several sledgingparties and accompanied F. Wild on his main eastern journey asCartographer.C. F. LASERON, twenty-five years of age, single, had gained aDiploma in Geology at the Technical College, Sydney, New South Wales,and for some years was Collector to the Technological Museum. At theMain Base (Adelie Land), during 1912, he acted as Taxidermist andgeneral Collector, taking part, as well, in sledging journeys to thesouth and east of Winter Quarters.C. T. MADIGAN, twenty-three years of age, single, was a graduate inScience (Mining Engineering) of Adelaide University, South Australia.Through the courtesy of the Trustees of the Rhodes Scholarship, thenecessary leave to accompany the Expedition was granted just as hewas on the eve of continuing his studies at Oxford University. Amember of the Main Base Party (Adelie Land) he acted as Meteorologistfor two years, and during the second year (1913) was also in charge ofthe Greenland dogs. An important journey in the spring and one tothe east in the summer were made under his leadership, and the Party,left in Adelie Land in 1913, was to have been under his charge, butfor my return.D. MAWSON, thirty years of age, single, was the Organiser and Leaderof the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and was, previous to it, amember of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition of 1907-1909,being one of the party under Professor David which reached the SouthMagnetic Pole. A graduate in Science and Engineering of Sydney andAdelaide Universities, he had filled for some time the post ofLecturer in Mineralogy and Petrology at the Adelaide University.The only survivor of a party sledging to the east from the Main Basein the summer of 1912-1913.A. L. McLEAN, twenty-six years of age, single, was a graduate in Artsand Medicine of Sydney University; New South Wales. He acted asChief Medical Officer at the Main Base (Adelie Land) and carried outobservations in Bacteriology and Physiology during the first year.In 1913 (the second year) he was Biologist, Ice-Carrier and Editor ofthe 'Adelie Blizzard'. He took part in a sledging journey along theeastern coast in the summer of 1912-1913.X. MERTZ, twenty-eight years of age, single, of Basle, Switzerland,was a graduate in Law of the Universities of Leipzig and Berne. Priorto joining the Expedition he had gained the Ski-running Championshipof Switzerland and was an experienced mountaineer. At the Main Base(Adelie Land) he was assisted by B. E. S. Ninnis in the care ofthe Greenland dogs. On January 7, 1913, during a sledging journey,he lost his life, one hundred miles south-east of Winter Quarters.C. P. DE LA MOTTE, nineteen years of age, single, of Bulli, NewSouth Wales, had early training at sea on the barque 'Northern Chief'of New Zealand, obtaining his certificate as second mate in March1911. During the eight months prior to joining the Expedition heserved as fourth officer on the S.S. 'Warrimoo' of the Union SteamshipCompany of New Zealand. Throughout the five cruises of the 'Aurora'between 1911 and 1914, C. P. de la Motte was third officer with theShip's party.M. H. MOYES, twenty-five years of age, single, of Koolunga, SouthAustralia, was a graduate in Science of Adelaide University. With theWestern Base Party (Queen Mary Land) he acted as Meteorologist andtook part in several sledging journeys in the autumn and spring of1912. During the summer of 1912-1913, through an unavoidableaccident, he was left to carry on work alone at Winter Quarters fora period of nine weeks.H. D. MURPHY, thirty-two years of age, single, of Melbourne,one-time Scholar in History of Oxford University. At the outset hewas to have been leader of a third Antarctic Base which was eventuallyamalgamated with the Main Base (Adelie Land). Here he had charge ofthe stores and during the early summer of 1912 was leader of theSouthern Supporting Party.B. E. S. NINNIS, twenty-three years of age, single, was educated atDulwich, England, and entered His Majesty's Army, having a commissionas Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers prior to joining the Expeditionin London. At the Main Base (Adelie Land) he was assisted by X. Mertzin the care of the Greenland dogs. On December 14, 1912, while on asledging journey, he lost his life by falling into a crevasse threehundred miles east of Winter Quarters.C. A. SANDELL, twenty-five years of age, single, of Surrey, England,studied electrical engineering for some years and then came toAustralia in 1909 and entered the Commonwealth Branch of Telephony.Having a practical knowledge of wireless telegraphy he joined theExpedition as a Wireless Operator and Mechanic and was stationed withthe Macquarie Island Party for two years. After the departure of A.J. Sawyer in August 1913, he was in complete charge of the wirelessstation. C. A. Sandell visited the Antarctic during the finalcruise of the 'Aurora' in the summer of 1913-1914.A. J. SAWYER, twenty-six years of age, single, was born in NewZealand. Having had considerable experience in wireless telegraphy,he joined the Expedition as an operator from the Australasian WirelessCompany. At the Macquarie Island Station he was chief wireless untilAugust 1913, when on account of illness he returned to New Zealand.F. L. STILLWELL, twenty-three years of age, single, was a graduatein Science of Melbourne University, Victoria. A member of the MainBase Party (Adelie Land) he acted as Geologist. F. L. Stillwellwas leader of two sledging parties who did detail work for about sixtymiles along the coast eastward of Winter Quarters.A. D. WATSON, twenty-four years of age, single, was a graduate inScience of Sydney University, New South Wales. A member of theWestern Base Party (Queen Mary Land) he acted as Geologist. A. D.Watson took part in several sledging journeys, accompanying F. Wildin his main eastern trip during the summer of 1912-1913.E. N. WEBB, twenty-two years of age, single, was an Associate ofCivil Engineering of Canterbury University College, and, for thefive months previous to joining the Expedition, carried out magneticobservations under the Carnegie Institute of Washington, U.S.A. Atthe Main Base (Adelie Land) E. N. Webb was Chief Magnetician,accompanying the Southern Sledging Party.L. A. WHETTER, twenty-nine years of age, single. He graduated atOtago University, New Zealand, and joined the Expedition as Surgeon,acting in that capacity at the Main Base (Adelie Land) during 1912.He accompanied a sledging party which explored to the westward ofWinter Quarters.F. WILD, thirty-eight years of age, single, was Leader of the WesternBase Party (Queen Mary Land). He joined the Merchant Service in1889 and the Navy in 1900, served on an extended sledge journeyduring the National Antarctic Expedition (Capt. R. F. Scott) of1901-1904, and was one of the Southern Party of Sir ErnestShackleton's Expedition from 1907-1909. During the AustralasianExpedition he opened up a new tract of country—Queen Mary Land.I desire to make special mention of the Ship's Party who faced therigorous conditions of Antarctica and the stormy Southern Ocean,during five separate voyages, with a cheerfulness and devotion to dutywhich will always stand to their lasting credit. In regions of heavypack-ice and sudden blizzard winds, Captain Davis piloted the Shipsafely through many situations of extreme danger. In a report to meon the work of the Ship he writes an appreciative note:—"I wish to draw particular attention to the loyal way in which theofficers and men of the 'Aurora' supported me. Messrs. Toucher,Fletcher, Blair, Gray, de la Motte, and Gillies, in their respectivepositions, carried out the duties assigned to them with ability andcheerfulness, often under very trying conditions."Mr. Gillies not only looked after the engines but assistedmaterially in the deep-sea work by the invention of a new form ofsounding driver which was used successfully during the variouscruises of the 'Aurora'."The Chief Officer was in charge of the stores and equipment of theExpedition on board the vessel, in addition to his ordinary executiveduties. Messrs. Toucher, Fletcher and Blair served in this capacityon different voyages."Mr. P. Gray, as Second and Navigating Officer, and Mr. C. P. dela Motte, as Third Officer, acted capably and thoroughly throughoutthe Expedition."APPENDIX IIScientific Work
It should be remarked that there is no intention of furnishinganything more than a suggestion of the general trend of the scientificobservations of the Expedition. The brief statement made belowindicates the broad lines on which the work was conducted and in somecases the ground which was actually covered. It may thus give thegeneral reader a clue to the nature of the scientific volumes whichwill serve to record permanently the results amassed during a periodof more than two years.
Terrestrial Magnetism1. Field Work.(a) Dip determinations were made at Macquarie Island, on the easternand southern journeys from the Main Base (Adelie Land) and on ashort journey from the Western Base (Queen Mary Land).(b) Declination by theodolite observations was determined atMacquarie Island and at intervals on all sledging journeys in theAntarctic.(c) Rough observations of magnetic variation were made daily on the'Aurora' during her five cruises.2. Station Work.(a) Regular magnetograph records were kept at the Main Base (Adelie Land)for a period of eighteen months. A system of term days for quick runswas also followed; Melbourne, Christchurch, and other stations cooperating. In connexion with the magnetograph work, Webb conductedregular, absolute observations throughout the year 1912. Bage continuedthe magnetograph records for a further six months in 1913, observedterm days, and took absolute observations.(b) At the Western Base (Queen Mary Land) Kennedy kept term days inthe winter, using a magnetometer and dip-circle.
Biology1. Station Collections.(a) At Macquarie Island, Hamilton worked for two years amongst a richfauna and a scanty but interesting flora. Amongst other discoveriesa finch indigenous to Macquarie Island was found.(b) In Adelie Land, Hunter, assisted by Laseron, secured a largebiological collection, notwithstanding the continuous bad weather.Dredgings from depths down to fifty fathoms were made during thewinter. The eggs of practically all the flying birds known alongAntarctic shores were obtained, including those of the silver-greypetrel and the Antarctic petrel, which were not previously known;also a variety of prion, of an unrecorded species, together with itseggs.(c) At the Western Base (Queen Mary Land) eggs of the Antarctic andother petrels were found, and a large rookery of Emperor penguins waslocated; the second on record. Harrisson, working under difficulties,succeeded in trapping some interesting fish on the bottom in twohundred and fifty fathoms of water.2. Ship Collections.(a) A collection made by Mr. E. R. Waite, Curator of the CanterburyMuseum, on the first Sub-Antarctic cruise.(b) A collection made by Professor T. T. Flynn, of Hobart, on thesecond Sub-Antarctic cruise.(c) A collection made by Hunter, assisted by Hamilton, in Antarcticwaters during the summer of 1913-1914. This comprised deep-seadredgings at eleven stations in depths down to one thousand eighthundred fathoms and regular tow-nettings, frequently serial, todepths of two hundred fathoms. Six specimens of the rare Ross sealwere secured. A large collection of external and internal parasiteswas made from birds, seals and fish.
Geology(a) A geological examination of Macquarie Island was made by Blake.The older rocks were found to be all igneous. The Island has beenoverridden in comparatively recent times by an ice-cap travellingfrom west to east.(b) Geological collections at the Main Base. In Adelie Land the rockyoutcrops are metamorphic sediments and gneisses. In King George VLand there is a formation similar to the Beacon sandstones and doleritesof the Ross Sea, with which carbonaceous shales and coaly strata areassociated.(c) Stillwell met with a great range of minerals and rocks in theterminal moraine near Winter Quarters, Adelie Land. Amongst them wasred sandstone in abundance, suggesting that the Beacon sandstoneformation extends also throughout Adelie Land but is hidden by theice-cap. A solitary stony meteorite was found by a sledging partylying on the ice of the plateau.(d) In the collections made by Watson and Hoadley at the WesternBase (Queen Mary Land) gneisses and schists were ascertained to bethe predominant types.(e) A collection of erratics was brought up by the deep-sea trawl inthe course of dredgings in Antarctic waters.
Glaciology(a) Observations of the pack-ice, coastal glaciers and shelf-ice fromthe 'Aurora' during her three Antarctic cruises.(b) Observations of the niveous and glacial features met with on thesledging journeys from both Antarctic bases.
Meteorology(a) Two years' observations at Macquarie Island by Ainsworth(b) Two years' observations in Adelie Land by Madigan.(c) One year's observations in Queen Mary Land by Moyes.(d) Observations by the Ship on each of her five voyages.(e) Observations during the many sledging journeys from bothAntarctic Bases.
Bacteriology, etc.In Adelie Land, McLean carried out many months of steady work inBacteriology, Haematology and Physiology.
TidesSelf-recording instruments were run at Macquarie Island by Ainsworthand at Adelie Land by Bage.
Wireless and Auroral ObservationsA very close watch was kept upon auroral phenomena with interestingresults, especially in their relation to the "permeability" of theether to wireless waves.
Geographical Results1. The successful navigation by the 'Aurora' of the Antarctic packice in a fresh sphere of action, where the conditions were practicallyunknown, resulting in the discovery of new lands and islands.2. Journeys were made over the sea-ice and on the coastal and uplandplateau in regions hitherto unsurveyed. At the Main Base (AdelieLand) the journeys aggregated two thousand four hundred miles, and atthe Western Base (Queen Mary Land) the aggregate was eight hundredmiles. These figures do not include depot journeys, the journeys ofsupporting parties, or the many miles of relay work. The land wasmapped in through 33 degrees of longitude, 27 degrees of which werecovered by sledging parties.3. The employment of wireless telegraphy in the fixation of afundamental meridian in Adelie Land.4. The mapping of Macquarie Island.
[TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS]A Section of the Antarctic Plateau from the Coast to a Point ThreeHundred Miles Inland, along the Route followed by the SouthernSledging Party (Adelie Land)A Section across the Antarctic Continent through the South MagneticPole from the D'Urville Sea to the Ross Sea; Compiled from Observationsmade by the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-1909) and by theAustralian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914)
Oceanography1. By soundings the fringe of the Antarctic Continent as well as theContinental Shelf has been indicated through 55 degrees of longitude.2. The configuration of the floor of the ocean southward of Australiaand between Macquarie Island and the Auckland Islands has been broadlyascertained.3. Much has been done in the matter of sea-water temperatures andsalinities.
[TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS]A Section of the Floor of the Southern Ocean between Tasmaniaand King George V LandA Section of the Floor of the Southern Ocean between WesternAustralia and Queen Mary Land
APPENDIX IllAn Historical Summary**
** For this compilation reference has been largely made to Dr. H. R.Mill's "The Siege of the South Pole." Several doubtful voyagesduring the early part of the nineteenth century have been omitted.1775. James Cook circumnavigated the Globe in high southernlatitudes, discovering the sub-antarctic island of South Georgia.He was the first to cross the Antarctic Circle.1819. William Smith, the master of a merchant vessel trading betweenMontevideo and Valparaiso, discovered the South Shetland Islands.1819. Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, despatched in command of anExpedition by the Emperor, Alexander I of Russia, with instructionsto supplement the voyage of Captain Cook, circumnavigated theAntarctic continent in high southern latitudes. The first discoveryof land south of the Antarctic Circle was made, namely, Peter I Islandand Alexander I Land (also an island), in the American Quadrant ofAntarctica.1820. Nathaniel Palmer, master of an American sealing-vessel, sightednew land to the south of the South Shetland Islands. It seems clearthat he was the first to view what is now known as the PalmerArchipelago (1820-21).1823. James Weddell, a British sealer, sailing southward of theAtlantic Ocean, reached 74 degrees 15' south latitude in the AmericanQuadrant, establishing a "farthest south" record.1830. John Biscoe, a whaling master of the British firm of EnderbyBrothers, sailed on a voyage circumnavigating the Antarctic Regions.Enderby Land was discovered south of the West Indian Ocean in theAfrican Quadrant of Antarctica. This was apparently a part of theAntarctic continent. New land was also met with to the south ofAmerica and charted as Graham's Land, Biscoe Island and AdelaideIsland.Kemp, a sailing master of Enderby Brothers, extended Biscoe'sdiscoveries shortly after by the report of land east of, andadjacent to, Enderby Land.Neither of these discoveries has yet been proved, though Enderby Land(Biscoe) undoubtedly exists.1839. John Balleny, another of Enderby's whaling captains, discoveredthe Balleny Islands within the Antarctic Circle, in the AustralianQuadrant of Antarctica, and gave a vague description of an appearanceof land to the westward. This has been charted on maps, withoutadequate evidence, as Sabrina Land.
[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]Antarctic Land Discoveries Preceding 1838Note. This and the two following maps of the series illustrate landdiscoveries only. In cases where the existence of land once reportedhas since been disproved no record at all is shown
1837. Jules Sebastian Cesar Dumont D'Urville, was despatched by KingLouis Philippe of France for the prosecution of scientific researcheson a voyage round the World. His cruise in the Antarctic resulted inthe charting of Joinville Island and Louis Philippe Land to the southof America (American Quadrant) and the discovery of a portion of theAntarctic continent, named Adelie Land, southward of Australia(Australian Quadrant).1838. Charles Wilkes, United States Navy, in accordance with a billpassed by Congress, set out on an exploring expedition to circumnavigatethe World. His programme included the investigation of the area ofthe Antarctic to the south of Australia—the Australian Quadrant.The squadron composing this American expedition first visited theAntarctic regions in the American Quadrant, and then proceeded eastwardround to the Australian Quadrant from which, after a long cruise, theyreturned, reporting land at frequent intervals in the vicinity of theAntarctic Circle between longitudes 157 degrees 46' E. and 106 degrees19' E. He shares with D'Urville the full honour of the discovery ofAdelie Land. Some of the supposed landfalls known to be non-existent.1839. James Clark Ross proceeded south in charge of a scientificexpedition fitted out by the Admiralty at the instance of the BritishAssociation for the Advancement of Science and approved of by the RoyalSociety. His aim was to circumnavigate the Antarctic regions and toinvestigate the Weddell Sea. The geographical results were fruitful;the Ross Sea, the Admiralty Range and the Great Ice Barrier werediscovered and some eight hundred miles of Antarctic coastline werebroadly delineated.1844. T. E. L. Moore was detailed by the Admiralty to supplementthe magnetic work of Ross and to explore to the southward of Africaand of the Indian Ocean, but no additions were made to geographicalknowledge.1872. Eduard Dallmann, whilst engaged in whaling with a Germansteamer to the southward of America, added some details to the map ofthe Palmer Archipelago but did not go further south than 64 degrees45' S. Iatitude.1874. The 'Challenger' scientific expedition, under the command ofGeorge Strong Nares, in the course of their voyage from the Cape toAustralia during the circumnavigation of the World penetrated withinthe Antarctic Circle in longitude 78 degrees 22' E.1892. A fleet of four Scottish whalers cruised through the northwestern part of the Weddell Sea. Scientific observations were madeby W. S. Bruce and others, but no geographical discoveries wererecorded.1892. C. A. Larsen, master of a Hamburg whaler, added importantdetails to the geography of the American Quadrant of Antarctica onthe western side of the Weddell Sea.1894. Evensen, master of another Hamburg whaler, brought back furtherinformation of the American Quadrant on the Pacific Ocean side.1895. H. J. Bull organized a whaling venture and with LeonardKristensen, master of the ship, revisited the Ross Sea area wherea landing was made at Cape Adare (Australian Quadrant). This was thefirst occasion on which any human being had set foot on the Antarcticcontinent.[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]Antarctic land Discoveries Preceding 1896 (A. J. Hodgeman)
1897. Adrien de Gerlache sailed from Belgium on a scientific exploringexpedition to the American Quadrant. Important additions were made tothe map, but the ship became frozen into the pack-ice and drifted aboutfor a whole year south of the Antarctic Circle. The members of thisexpedition were the first to experience an Antarctic winter. Antarcticexploration now entered upon a new era.1898. Carstens Egeberg Borchgrevink led an expedition, fitted out bySir George Newnes; its objective being the Ross Sea area. Furtherdetails were added to the map, but the most notable fact was that theexpedition wintered at Cape Adare, on the mainland itself. The GreatRoss Barrier was determined to be thirty miles south of the positionassigned by Ross in 1839.1898. Chun of Leipsig, in charge of the 'Valdivia' Expedition, carriedout oceanographical researches far to the south, in the vicinity ofEnderby Land (African Quadrant), though he did not come within sightof the continent.1901. Robert Falcon Scott, in command of the 'Discovery' Expedition,organised by the Royal Geographical Society and Royal Society withthe co-operation of the Admiralty, in accordance with a scheme ofinternational endeavour, passed two winters at the southern extremityof the Ross Sea and carried out many successful sledging journeys.Their main geographical achievements were: the discovery of KingEdward VII Land; several hundred miles of new land on a "farthestsouth" sledging journey to latitude 82 degrees 17' S.; the discoveryof the Antarctic plateau; additional details and original contributionsto the geography of the lands and islands of the Ross Sea.1901. A German national expedition, led by Erich von Drygalski, setout for the region south of the Indian Ocean. After a small partyhad been stationed on Kerguelen Island, the main party proceededsouth close to the tracks of the Challenger. They came within sightof Antarctic shores but were frozen into the pack-ice for a wholeyear. Kaiser Wilhelm II Land was discovered close to the junctionbetween the Australian and African Quadrants.1901. A Swedish national expedition, planned and led by OttoNordenskjold, wintered for two years on Snow Hill Island in theAmerican Quadrant, and did much valuable scientific work.1902. William Speirs Bruce organized and led a Scottish expedition tothe Weddell Sea, southward of the Atlantic Ocean. The party effectednotable oceanographic researches and wintered at the South OrkneyIslands, but were foiled in their attempt to penetrate the pack-ice.During the second season, conditions were more favourable and the shipreached Coats Land in 74 degrees 1' S. Iatitude.1903. Jean Charcot organized and led a French expedition to theAmerican Quadrant and there added many details to the existing chart.1907. Ernest Henry Shackleton organized and led a Britishexpedition with the main object of reaching the South GeographicalPole. His party wintered at Cape Royds, McMurdo Sound, and two mainsledging parties set out in the early summer. E. H. Shackleton'sparty ascended the Antarctic plateau and penetrated to within ninetyseven geographical miles of the South Pole, discovering new land beyondScott's "farthest south." T. W. Edgeworth David's party reached theSouth Magnetic Polar Area, filling in many details of the western coastof McMurdo Sound.1908. Jean Charcot organized and led a second French expedition toextend the work accomplished in 1903 in the American Quadrant. He wassuccessful in discovering new land still further to the south.Loubet, Fallieres and Charcot Lands, towards and beyond Alexander ILand, were added to the map of Antarctica.1910. Roald Amundsen organized an expedition for scientific researchin the vicinity of the North Pole but changed his plans, eventuallyheading for the South Pole. The expedition wintered on the RossBarrier near King Edward VII Land, from which point he set out andattained the South Geographical Pole, mapping in new land on the way.Another party visited King Edward VII Land.1910. Robert Falcon Scott led a second Antarctic expedition, the mainobject of which was to reach the South Geographical Pole. Theprincipal party wintered near his old winter quarters at Hut Point,McMurdo Sound. A second party was landed at Cape Adare. Scottreached the Pole soon after the Norwegian Amundsen, but he and hisparty perished on the return journey. Other parties added details tothe map of Victoria Land. Oates Land was sighted from the ship to thewestward of Cape Adare in the Australian Quadrant.1910. A Japanese expedition sailed to the Ross Sea, but on account ofthe lateness of the season was forced to turn back without landing.The winter was spent at Sydney, New South Wales. Next year a summervisit was made to the South, but no additional land discoveries weremade.1911. A German expedition, led by Wilhelm Filchner, proceeded to theWeddell Sea; the South Pole being its objective. The partysucceeded in reaching further south in that region than any previousnavigators and discovered new land, to be named Prince Luitpold Land.They were driven northwards amongst the pack in a blizzard and spentthe winter frozen in south of Coats Land.[TEXT ILLUSTRATION]A Map of the Antarctic Regions as Known at the Present Day1915
APPENDIX IVGlossaryOceanography. The study of the ocean, including the shape andcharacter of its bed, the temperature and salinity of the water atvarious depths, the force and set of its currents, and the nature ofthe creatures and plants which haunt its successive zones.Neve. [n,e acute, v, e acute] The compacted snow of a snow-field;a stage in the transition between soft, loose snow and glacier-ice.Sastrugi. The waves caused by continuous winds blowing across thesurface of an expanse of snow. These waves vary in size according tothe force and continuity of the wind and the compactness of the snow.The word is of Russian derivation (from zastruga [sing.], zastrugi[pl.] ), denoting snow-waves or the irregularities on the surface ofroughly-planed wood.Ice-foot. A sheath of ice adhering along the shores of polar lands.The formation may be composed of attached remnants of floe-ice,frozen sea-spray and drift-snow.Nunatak. An island-like outcrop of rock projecting through a sheet ofenveloping land-ice.Shelf-ice. A thick, floating, fresh water ice-formation pushing outfrom the land and continuous with an extensive glacier. Narrowprolongations or peninsulas of the shelf-ice may be referred to asice-tongues or glacier-tongues.Barrier is a term which has been rather loosely applied in theliterature of Antarctic Exploration. Formerly it was used todescribe a formation, which is mainly shelf-ice, known as the GreatRoss Barrier. Confusion arose when "Barrier" came to be applied tothe seaward ice-cliff (resting on rock) of an extensive sheet ofland-ice and when it was also employed to designate a line ofconsolidated pack-ice. Spelt with a small "b" the term is aconvenient one, so long as it carries its ordinary meaning; it seemsunnecessary to give it a technical connotation.Blizzard. A high wind at a low temperature, accompanied by drifting,not necessarily falling snow.Floe or Floe-ice. The comparatively flat, frozen surface of the seaintersected by cracks and leads (channels of open water).Pack or Pack-ice is a field of loose ice originating in the main frombroken floe, to which may be added material from the disintegrationof bergs, and bergs themselves.Brash or Brash-ice. Small, floating fragments of ice—the debris oflarger pieces—usually observed bordering a tract of pack-ice.Bergschrund has been "freely rendered" in the description of thegreat cleft between the lower part of the Denman Glacier and theShackleton Shelf-Ice (Queen Mary Land). In a typical glacier, "theupper portion is hidden by neve and often by freshly fallen snowand is smooth and unbroken. During the summer, when little snowfalls, the body of the glacier moves away from the snow-field and agaping crevasse of great depth is usually established, called a'Bergschrund', which is sometimes taken as the upper limit of theglacier" ("Encyclopaedia Britannica").Sub-Antarctica. A general term used to denote the area of ocean,containing islands and encircling the Antarctic continent, between thevicinity of the 50th parallel of south latitude and the confines ofthe ice-covered sea.Seracs are wedged masses of icy pinnacles which are produced in thesurface of a glacier by dragging strains which operate on crevassedareas. A field of such pinnacles, jammed together in brokenconfusion, is called serac-iceThe following colloquial words or phrases occurring in the narrativewere largely determined by general usage:To depot = to cache or to place a stock of provisions in a depot;drift = drift-snow;fifty-mile wind = a wind of fifty miles an hour;burberry = "Burberry gabardine" or specially prepared wind-proofclothing;whirly (pi. whirlies) = whirlwind carrying drift-snow and pursuing adevious track;night-watchman = night-watch;glaxo = "Glaxo" (a powder of dried milk);primus = primus stove used during sledging;hoosh = pemmican and plasmon biscuit "porridge";tanks = canvas bags for holding sledging provisions;boil-up = sledging meal;ramp = bank of snow slanting away obliquely on the leeward side of anobstacle;radiant = an appearance noted in clouds (especially cirro-stratus)which seem to radiate from a point on the horizonThe following appended list may be of biological interest:Birds AvesEmperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteriKing penguin Aptenodytes patagonicaAdelie penguin Pygoscelis adeliaeRoyal penguin Catarrhactes schlegeliVictoria penguin Catarrhactes pachyrynchusGentoo or Rockhopper penguin Pygoscelis papuaWandering albatross Diomedea exulansMollymawk or Black-browed albatross Diomedea melanophrysSooty albatross Phoebetria fuliginosaGiant petrel or nelly Ossifraga giganteaMacCormick's skua gull Megalestris maccormickiSouthern skua gull Megalestris antarcticaAntarctic petrel Thalassoeca antarcticaSilver-grey petrel or southern fulmar Priocella glacialoidesCape pigeon Daption capensisSnow petrel Pagodroma niveaLesson's petrel Oestrelata lessoniWilson petrel Oceanites oceanicusStorm petrel Fregetta melanogasterCape hen Majaqueus oequinoctialisSmall prion or whale bird Prion banksiiCrested tern Sterna sp.Southern black-backed or Dominican gull Larus dominicanusMacquarie Island shag Phalacrocorax traversiMutton bird Puffinus griseusMaori hen or "weka" Ocydromus scotti