tion
to our geographical knowledge. Well to the north of the mainland, and
bearing a little north of east, he could trace the outline of land.
Subsequently this was proved to be an island, thirty-two miles distant,
and seventeen miles north of the mainland. It was twenty miles long and
fifteen miles wide, being entirely ice-covered. Later on, it was charted
as Masson Island.

On the 28th, the hut was fit for habitation, the stove was installed,
and meals were cooked and eaten in moderate comfort. The interior of
the house was twenty feet square, but its area was reduced by a lobby
entrance, three feet by five feet, a dark-room three feet by six feet
situated on one side, and my cabin six feet six inches square in one
corner. The others slept in seven bunks which were ranged at
intervals round the walls. Of the remaining space, a large portion was
commodiously occupied by the stove and table.

On three sides, the roof projected five feet beyond the walls and formed
a veranda which was boarded up, making an excellent store-room and
work-room. This was a splendid idea of Dr. Mawson's, enabling us to
work during the severest storms when there was no room in the hut, and
incidentally supplying extra insulation and rendering the inside
much warmer. The main walls and roof were double and covered with
weather-proof felt. Daylight was admitted through four plate-glass
skylights in the roof.

A blizzard effectually prevented outdoor work on February 29, and all
hands were employed in the hut, lining the roof and walls and fixing
shelves for cooking and other utensils.

An attack was made on the transport of stores next day. As a result of
twelve hours' work, five and a half tons of coal were dragged up and
stowed under the veranda. It was Hoadley's birthday, and the cook made a
special feature of the dinner. With extra dainties like figs, cake and a
bottle of wine, we felt that the occasion was fitly celebrated. On March
2, more stores were amassed round the house; Hoadley, Harrisson and I
doing odd jobs inside, opening cans, sorting out stores, fitting bunks,
shelves and the acetylene gas plant.

While undoing some packages of small boards, Hoadley found that a space
had been arranged in the centre of one of the bundles, and a box
of cigars inserted by some of the men originally employed upon the
construction of the hut in Melbourne. Enclosed was a letter of hearty
good wishes.

During the afternoon, Dovers and Kennedy