e Australian cheeses which filled one of the
cabins, and pervaded the ward-room with an odour which remained one of
its permanent associations.

Yet, heterogeneous and ill-assorted as our cargo may have appeared to
the crowds of curious onlookers, Captain Davis had arranged for the
stowage of everything with a nicety which did him credit. The complete
effects of the four bases were thus kept separate, and available in
whatever order was required. Furthermore, the removal of one unit would
not break the stowage of the remainder, nor disturb the trim of the
ship.

At a late date the air-tractor sledge arrived. The body was contained in
one huge case which, though awkward, was comparatively light, the case
weighing much more than the contents. This was securely lashed above the
maindeck, resting on the fo'c'sle and two boat-skids.

As erroneous ideas have been circulated regarding the "aeroplane
sledge," or more correctly "air-tractor sledge," a few words in
explanation will not be out of place.

This machine was originally an R.E.P. monoplane, constructed by Messrs.
Vickers and Co., but supplied with a special detachable, sledge-runner
undercarriage for use in the Antarctic, converting it into a tractor for
hauling sledges. It was intended that so far as its role as a flier
was concerned, it would be chiefly exercised for the purpose of drawing
public attention to the Expedition in Australia, where aviation was then
almost unknown. With this object in view, it arrived in Adelaide at an
early date accompanied by the aviator, Lieutenant Watkins, assisted by
Bickerton. There it unfortunately came to grief, and Watkins and Wild
narrowly escaped death in the accident. It was then decided to make no
attempt to fly in the Antarctic; the wings were left in Australia and
Lieutenant Watkins returned to England. In the meantime, the machine was
repaired and forwarded to Hobart.

Air-tractors are great consumers of petrol of the highest quality. This
demand, in addition to the requirements of two wireless plants and a
motor-launch, made it necessary to take larger quantities than we liked
of this dangerous cargo. Four thousand gallons of "Shell" benzine and
one thousand three hundred gallons of "Shell" kerosene, packed in
the usual four-gallon export tins, were carried as a deck cargo,
monopolizing the whole of the poop-deck.

For the transport of the requirements of the Macquarie Island Base,
the s.s. 'Toroa', a small steam-p