Since writing the above about the Aztecs and the Peruvians I came across the following about the Borchgrevinck expedition, and I am sure you will be pleased to read it. I copied it from the Otago Daily Times, a paper which only a few of you see : Although the strictest secrecy was observed by those on board the Southern Gross when she came to Port Chalmers in March. last as tojthe doings of Mr Borchgrevinck and bis party, which she had landed in the Antarctic regions, a few particulars were given at the annual meeting of the Royal Geographical Society. The Southern Cross sighted the Balleny Islands, and was 42 days in the pack. But on February 15 last very high snow covered land was sighted, during a heavy gale, with terrific squalls and a high sea. Next day the gale increased and on the 17tb the Southern Cross was anchored in five fathoms, at a distance of three-quarters of a mile from the beach at Cape A dare. A landing was effected on the 18th. The dogs were got on shore with the Finn drivers, and several boat loads of stores and provisions were landed. But on the evening of the 20th there was another furious gale, and during the squalls the deck was actually strewn with pebbles blown from adjacent mountains. The work of building the house and lending stores was steadily proceeded with from the 21st to the 25th, but on the 26th another terrific gale began, and refuge was found for the ship at the south end of Robertson Bay. On the 27th three of the party set out to ascend a peak bearing south south-west from Cape Adare, landing on a pebbly beach. They made for the peak across snowdrifts and glaciers, but were stopped by an inaccessible ice mass after reaching a height of 2300 ft. The country inland appeared to be an immense undulating plateau covered with glaciers. On the 25th the house was completed, and Mr Borchgrevinck landed with the scientific staff to winter on this desolate spit of land. The Southern Cross then returned, arriving at Port Chalmers on March 16 last.
