ls. The idea was
followed with great success, and Sandell was able to run the halyard
through the block at the top (ninety feet). The aerial was then hauled
into position, the stay-wires were tightened, an extra "dead man" was
put in and the station was once more ready for work.

Hamilton returned from Sandy Bay on the 11th laden with botanical
trophies and four specimens of a small land bird which we had never
before seen. He and Blake, who remained behind, had fixed up the hut
there so that it afforded decent shelter.

On the night of the 13th what we had long expected happened. Wireless
communication was established for the first time, with a ship--s.s.
'Ulimaroa'. Sandell and Sawyer were complimented on their success.

On the following night communication was held with Sydney, s.s.
'Westralia', s.s. 'Ulimaroa' and H.M.S. 'Drake'; the latter very
courteously sending us time-signals. We heard that a wireless station
had just been established in Melbourne, and that the Hobart station
would be working in about one month. It was with the latter station that
we expected to do most of our business. There was great joy in the camp
now that this stage of practical efficiency was reached and because we
were no longer isolated from the world.

Blake came back from Sandy Bay on the 16th with news that he had almost
finished the survey of that section. Foggy or misty weather gave him
a good deal of trouble in getting sights with the theodolite, and it
became part of his future programme to devote the "impossible" days
to plotting data, writing up field-notes, and making geological
collections.

The afternoon of the 17th was fine, and I went along the beach
towards West Point and found it very rough travelling. Hundreds of sea
elephants, mostly of the season's young, lay about in the tussock or
amongst the rocks. The young, silver-grey in colour, looked very sleek
and fat. The adults consorted in groups of from eight to ten, packed
closely and fast asleep. They seemed to fairly luxuriate in a soft,
swampy place and were packed like sardines in some of the wallows.

Large numbers of skua gulls, creating a dreadful din, drew my attention
to a spot amongst the rocks, and, on nearing it, I found them squabbling
around the carcase of a xiphoid whale, about sixteen feet long, which
had been cast up apparently only a few hours before.

The skuas, as they are commonly called, are large brown birds which
resort to the island in gr