uous.

The Expedition had a problem sketched in unmistakable feature, and
the following pages will shortly set forth its historical origin and
rationale.

The Antarctic problem** assumed its modern aspect after Captain Cook's
circumnavigation of the globe in high southern latitudes, accomplished
between 1772 and 1775. Fact replaced the fiction and surmise of former
times, and maps appeared showing a large blank area at the southern
extremity of the earth, where speculative cartographers had affirmed the
existence of habitable land extending far towards the Equator. Cook's
voyage made it clear that if there were any considerable mass of
Antarctic land, it must indubitably lie within the Antarctic Circle, and
be subjected to such stringent climatic conditions as to render it an
unlikely habitation for man.

** Dr. H. R. Mill has compiled a complete account of Antarctic
exploration in his "Siege of the South Pole." Refer also to the
Historical Appendix for an abridged statement.

Cook's reports of seals on the island of South Georgia initiated in the
Antarctic seas south of America a commercial enterprise, which is still
carried on, and has incidentally thrown much light upon the geography of
the South Polar regions. Indeed, almost the whole of such information,
prior to the year 1839, was the outcome of sealing and whaling projects.

About the year 1840, a wave of scientific enthusiasm resulted in the
dispatch of three national expeditions by France, the United States,
and Great Britain; part at least of whose programmes was Antarctic
exploration. Russia had previously sent out an expedition which had made
notable discoveries.

The contributions to knowledge gained at this period were considerable.
Those carried back to civilization by the British expedition under Ross,
are so well known that they need not be described. The French under
Dumont D'Urville and the Americans under Wilkes visited the region to
the southward of Australia--the arena of our own efforts--and frequent
references will be made to their work throughout this story.

What has been termed the period of averted interest now intervened,
before the modern movement set in with overpowering insistence. It
was not till 1897 that it had commenced in earnest. Since then many
adventurers have gone forth; most of the prominent civilized nations
taking their share in exploration. By their joint efforts some, at
least, of the mystery of Antarctica has