CHAPTER XXVII
THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR
by G. F. Ainsworth
We had now thrown a year behind and the work we set out
to accomplish was almost finished; so it was with pleasurable feelings that
we took up the burden of completion, looking forward to the arrival of April
1913 which should bring us final relief and the prospects of civilisation.
I shall deal with the first three months of the year as one period, since
almost all the field-work, except photography, had been done, and, after
the return of Blake and Hamilton from Lusitania Bay on January 8, our life
was one of routine; much time being devoted to packing and labelling specimens
in anticipation of departure.
The first business of the year was to overhaul the wireless station, and
on the 6th, Sawyer, Sandell and I spent the day laying in a supply of benzine
from Aerial Cove, changing worn ropes, tightening stay-wires, straightening
the southern masts and finally hauling the aerial taut. These duties necessitated
much use of the ``handy billy,'' and one has but to form an acquaintance
with this desirable ``person'' to thoroughly appreciate his value.
Blake and Hamilton returned on January 8 and reported that their work was
finished at the southern end. Thenceforth they intended to devote their
time to finishing what remained to be done at the northern end and in adding
to their collections. Blake, for instance, resolved to finish his chart
of the island, and, if time permitted, to make a topographical survey of
the locality, as it was of great geological interest. Hamilton made the
discovery that a number of bird specimens he had packed away were mildewed,
and as a result he was compelled to overhaul the whole lot and attend to
them. He found another colony of mutton birds on North Head, the existence
of which was quite unexpected till he dug one out of a burrow thought to
contain ``night-birds.''
About the middle of January I endeavoured to do a little meteorological
work with the aid of some box-kites nanufactured by Sandell. But though
a number of them were induced to fly, we had no success in getting them
up with the instruments attached. They all had a habit of suddenly losing
equilibrium and then indulging in a series of rapid dives and plunges which
usually ended in total wreckage.
The `Rachel Cohen' again visited the island on January 26, but this time
she anchored off ``The Nuggets,'' whither the sealers had gone to live during
the penguin season. We could see the ship lying about a mile offshore, and
walked down to get our mails and anything else she had brought along for
us. I received a letter from the Secretary of the Expedition saying that
he had made arrangements for us to return by the `Rachel Cohen' early in
April, and the news caused a little excitement, being the only definite
information we had had concerning relief.
The end of the first month found Blake and Hamilton both very busy in making
suitable boxes for specimens. Many of the larger birds could not be packed
in ordinary cases, so Hamilton had to make specially large ones to accommodate
them, and Blake's rock specimens being very heavy, extra strong boxes had
to be made, always keeping in view the fact that each was to weigh not more
than eighty pounds, so as to ensure convenient handling.
After a silence of about four months, we again heard Adelie Land on February
3, but the same old trouble existed, that is, they could not hear us. Sawyer
called them again and again, getting no reply, but we reckoned that conditions
would improve in a few weeks, as the hours of darkness increased.
Hamilton and I made a trip to the hill-tops on the 4th for the purpose of
taking a series of plant and earth temperatures which were of interest biologically,
and while there I took the opportunity of obtaining temperatures in all
the lakes we saw. Hamilton also took some panoramic photographs from the
various eminences and all of them turned out well.
During the evening Adelie Land sent out a message saying that Dr. Mawson
had not yet returned to the Base from his sledging trip and Sawyer received
it without difficulty, but though he ``pounded away'' in return for a considerable
time, he was not heard, as no reply or acknowledgment was made.
The `Rachel Cohen' remained till the 5th, when a northerly gale arose and
drove her away. As she had a good cargo of oil on board no one expected
her to return. We had sent our mail on board several days previously as
experience had shown us that the sailing date of ships visiting the island
was very uncertain.
Sandell met with a slight though painful accident on the 7th. He was starting
the engine, when it ``backfired'' and the handle flying off with great force
struck him on the face, inflicting a couple of nasty cuts, loosening several
teeth, and lacerating the inside of his cheek. A black eye appeared in a
day or two and his face swelled considerably, but nothing serious supervened.
In a few days the swelling had subsided and any anxiety we felt was at an
end.
We now had only two sheep left, and on the 8th Blake and I went to kill
one. Mac accompanied us. Seeing the sheep running away, she immediately
set off after them, notwithstanding our threats, yells and curses. They
disappeared over a spur, but shortly afterwards Mac returned, and, being
severely thrashed, immediately left for home. We looked for the sheep during
the rest of the day but could find no trace of them, and though we searched
for many days it was not till five weeks had elapsed that we discovered
them on a small ``landing'' about half-way down the face of the cliff. They
had apparently rushed over the edge and, rolling down, had finally come
to a stop on the ledge where they were found later, alive and well.
On the 8th Adelie Land was heard by us calling the `Aurora' to return at
once and pick up the rest of the party, stating also that Lieutenant Ninnis
and Dr. Mertz were dead. All of us were shocked at the grievous intelligence
and every effort was made by Sawyer to call up Adelie Land, but without
success.
On the following day we received news from Australia of the disaster to
Captain Scott's party.
Blake, who was now geologizing and doing topographical work, discovered
several lignite seams in the hills on the east coast; he had finished his
chart of the island. The mainland is simply a range of mountains which have
been at some remote period partly submerged. The land meets the sea in steep
cliffs and bold headlands, whose general height is from five hundred to
seven hundred feet, with many peaks ranging from nine hundred and fifty
to one thousand four hundred and twenty feet, the latter being the height
of Mount Hamilton, which rears up just at the back of Lusitania Bay. Evidence
of extreme glaciation is everywhere apparent, and numerous tarns and lakes
are scattered amongst the hills, the tops of which are barren, wind-swept
and weather-worn. The hill sides are deeply scored by ravines, down which
tumble small streams, forming cascades at intervals on their hurried journey
towards the ocean. Some of these streams do not reach the sea immediately,
but disappear in the loose shingly beaches of peaty swamps. The west coast
is particularly rugged, and throughout its length is strewn wreckage of
various kinds, some of which is now one hundred yards from the water's edge.
Very few stretches of what may be called ``beach'' occur on the island;
the foreshores consisting for the most part of huge water-worn boulders
or loose gravel and shingle, across which progress is slow and difficult.
A Section across Macquarie Island through Mt. Elder
Apparently the ground shelves very rapidly under the water, as a sounding
of over two thousand fathoms was obtained by the `Aurora' at a distance
of eight miles from the east coast. The trend of the island is about eleven
degrees from true north; the axis lying north by east to south by west.
At either end are the island-groups already referred to, and their connexion
with the mainland may be traced by the sunken rocks indicated by the breaking
seas on the line of reef.
A very severe storm about the middle of the month worked up a tremendous
sea, which was responsible for piling hundreds of tons of kelp on the shore,
and for several days tangled masses could be seen drifting about like small
floating islands.
On the 20th an event occurred to which we had long looked forward, and which
was now eagerly welcomed. Communication was established with the Main Base
in Adelie Land by wireless! A message was received from Dr. Mawson confirming
the deaths of Ninnis and Mertz, and stating that the `Aurora' had not picked
up the whole party. Sawyer had a short talk with Jeffryes, the Adelie Land
operator, and among other scraps of news told him we were all well.
Hamilton killed a sea elephant on the 22nd. The animal was a little over
seventeen feet long and thirteen and a half feet in girth just at the back
of the flippers, while the total weight was more than four tons. It took
Hamilton about a day to complete the skinning, and, during the process,
the huge brute had to be twice turned over, but such is the value of the
nautical handy-billy that two men managed it rather easily. When the skin
had been removed, five of us dragged it to the sealers' blubber-shed, where
it was salted, spread out, and left to cure.
We had communication with Adelie Land again on the 26th, and messages were
sent and received by both stations. Dr. Mawson wirelessed to the effect
that the `Aurora' would, after picking up Wild's party, make an attempt
to return to Adelie Land if conditions were at all favourable.
Finding that provisions were running rather short on the last day of February,
we reduced ourselves to an allowance of one pound of sugar per week each,
which was weighed out every Thursday. Altogether there were only forty-five
pounds remaining. Thenceforth it was the custom for each to bring his sugar-tin
to the table every meal. The arrangement had its drawbacks, inasmuch as
no sugar was available for cooking unless a levy were made. Thus puddings
became rarities, because most of us preferred to use the sugar in tea or
coffee.
March came blustering in, accompanied by a sixty-four-mile gale which did
damage to the extent of blowing down our annexe, tearing the tarpaulin off
the stores at the back and ripping the spouting off the Shack. A high sea
arose and the conformation of the beach on the north-western side of the
isthmus was completely changed. Numbers of sea elephants' tusks and bones
were revealed, which had remained buried in the shingle probably for many
years, and heaps of kelp were piled up where before there had been clean,
stony beach. Kelp is a very tough weed, but after being washed up and exposed
to the air for a few days, begins to decay, giving forth a most disagreeable
smell.
At this time we caught numerous small fish amongst the rocks at the water's
edge with a hand line about four feet long. It was simply a matter of dropping
in the line, watching the victim trifle with destiny and hauling him in
at the precise moment.
Wireless business was now being done nightly with Adelie Land, and on the
7th I received a message from Dr. Mawson saying that the party would in
all probability be down there for another season, and stating the necessity
for keeping Macquarie Island station going till the end of the year. This
message I read out to the men, and gave them a week in which to view the
matter. The alternatives were to return in April or to remain till the end
of the year.
I went through the whole of the stores on the 10th, and found that the only
commodities upon which we would have to draw sparingly were milk, sugar,
kerosene, meats and coal. The flour would last till May, but the butter
allowance would have to be reduced to three pounds per week.
It was on the 12th that we found the lost sheep, but as we had some wekas,
sufficient to last us for several days, I did not kill one till the 15th.
On that day four of us went down towards the ledge where they were standing,
and shot one, which immediately toppled off and rolled down some distance
into the tussock, the other one leaping after it without hesitation. While
Blake and Hamilton skinned the dead sheep, Sandell and I caught the other
and tethered it at the bottom of the hill amongst a patch of Maori cabbage,
as we thought it would probably get lost if left to roam loose. However,
on going to the spot next day, the sheep was nearly dead, having got tangled
up in the rope. So we let it go free, only to lose the animal a day or two
later, for it fell into a bog and perished.
On March 22 a lunar eclipse occurred, contact lasting a little over three
hours from 9.45 P.M. till within a few minutes of 1 A.M. on the 23rd. The
period of total eclipse was quite a lengthy one, and during the time it
lasted the darkness was intense. Cloud interfered for a while with our observations
in the total stage. No coronal effect was noted, though a pulsating nebulous
area appeared in front of the moon just before contact.
A message came on the 27th saying that the `Rachel Cohen' was sailing for
Macquarie Island on May 2, and would bring supplies as well as take back
the men who wished to be relieved, and this was forwarded in turn to Dr.
Mawson.
He replied, saying that the `Aurora' would pick us up about the middle of
November and convey us to Antarctica, thence returning to Australia; but
if any member wished to return by the `Rachel Cohen' he could do so, though
notification would have to be given, in order to allow of substitutes being
appointed. All the members of the party elected to stay, and I asked each
man to give an outline of the work he intended to pursue during the extended
period.
During March strong winds were recorded on fourteen days, reaching gale-
force on six occasions. The gale at the beginning of the month was the strongest
we had experienced, the velocity at 5.40 A.M. on the 1st reaching sixty-four
miles per hour. Precipitation occurred on twenty- six days and the average
amount of cloud was 85 per cent. A bright auroral display took place on
the 6th, lasting from 11.20 till 11.45 P.M. It assumed the usual arch-form
stretching from the south-east to south- west, and streamers and shafts
of light could be observed pulsating upwards towards the zenith.
We now started on what might be called the second stage of our existence
on the island. In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to give some idea
of what happened during what was to have been our full period; but
unforeseen circumstances compelled us to extend our stay for eight months
more, until the `Aurora' came to relieve us in November. As the routine
was similar in a good many respects to that which we had just gone through,
I shall now refer to only the more salient features of our life.
The loyalty of my fellows was undoubted, and though any of them could have
returned if he had felt so inclined, I am proud to say that they all decided
to see it through. When one has looked forward hopefully to better social
conditions, more comfortable surroundings and reunion with friends, it gives
him a slight shock to find that the door has been slammed, so to speak,
for another twelve months. Nevertheless, we all found that a strain of philosophy
smoothed out the rough realities, and in a short time were facing the situation
with composure, if not actual contentment.
We decided now to effect a few improvements round about our abode, and all
set to work carrying gravel from the beach to put down in front of the Shack,
installing a sink-system to carry any waste water, fixing the leaking roof
and finally closing up the space between the lining and the wall to keep
out the rats.
We expected the `Rachel Cohen' to leave Hobart with our stores on May 2,
and reckoned that the voyage would occupy two weeks. Thus, it would be six
weeks before she arrived. I was therefore compelled on the 10th to reduce
the sugar allowance to half a pound per week. We were now taking it in turns
to go once a week and get some wekas, and it was always possible to secure
about a dozen, which provided sufficient meat for three dinners. Breakfast
consisted generally of fish, which we caught, or sea elephant in some form,
whilst we had tinned fish for lunch.
Sandell installed a telephone service between the Shack and the wireless
station about the middle of April, the parts all being made by himself;
and it was certainly an ingenious and valuable contrivance. I, in particular,
learned to appreciate the convenience of it as time went on. The buzzer
was fixed on the wall close to the head of my bunk and I could be called
any time during the night from the wireless station, thus rendering it possible
to reply to communications without loss of time. Further, during the winter
nights, when auroral observations had to be made, I could retire if nothing
showed during the early part of the night, leaving it to Sandell,
who worked till 2 or 3 A.M. to call me if any manifestation occurred.
We had heavy gales from the 12th to the 17th inclusive, the force of the
wind during the period frequently exceeding fifty miles per hour, and, on
the first-mentioned date, the barometer fell to 27.8 inches. The usual terrific
seas accompanied the outburst.
Finding that there were only eight blocks of coal left, I reduced the weekly
allowance to one. We had a good supply of tapioca, but neither rice nor
sago, and as the sealers had some of the latter two, but none of the former,
we made an exchange to the extent of twelve pounds of tapioca for eight
pounds of rice and some sago. Only fifteen pounds of butter remained on
the 20th, and I divided this equally, as it was now one of the luxuries,
and each man could use his own discretion in eating it. As it was nearing
the end of April, and no further word concerning the movements of the `Rachel
Cohen' had been received, I wirelessed asking to be immediately advised
of the exact date of the vessel's departure. A reply came that the ship
would definitely reach us within two months. I answered, saying we could
wait two months, but certainly no longer.
With a view to varying the menu a little, Blake and I took Mac up on the
hills on April 26 to get some rabbits and, after tramping for about six
hours, we returned with seven. In our wanderings we visited the penguin
rookeries at ``The Nuggets,'' and one solitary bird sat in the centre of
the vast area which had so lately been a scene of much noise and contention.
On May 1 I took an inventory of the stores and found that they would last
for two months if economically used. Of course, I placed confidence in the
statement that the `Rachel Cohen' would reach the island within that time.
With the coming of May wintry conditions set in, and at
the end of the first week the migrants had deserted our uninviting island.
Life with us went on much the same as usual, but the weather was rather
more severe than that during the previous year, and we were confined to
the Shack a good deal.
The sealers who were still on the island had shifted back to the Hut at
the north end so that they were very close to us and frequently came over
with their dog in the evenings to have a yarn. The majority of them were
men who had ``knocked about'' the world and had known many rough, adventurous
years. One of them in particular was rather fluent, and we were often entertained
from his endless repertoire of stories.
On the 23rd, finding that there were seventy-seven and a half pounds of
flour remaining, and ascertaining that the sealers could let us have twenty-five
pounds, if we ran short, I increased the allowance for bread to twelve and
a half pounds per week, and this, when made up, gave each man two and three-quarter
pounds of bread. Our supply of oatmeal was very low, but in order to make
it last we now started using a mixture of oatmeal and sago for breakfast;
of course, without any milk or sugar.
Just about this time Mac gave birth to six pups and could not help us in
obtaining food. She had done valuable service in this connexion, and the
loss in the foraging strength of the party was severely felt for several
weeks. She was particularly deadly in hunting rabbits and wekas, and though
the first-named were very scarce within a few miles of the Shack, she always
managed to unearth one or two somewhere. Hut-slippers were made out of the
rabbit skins and they were found to be a great boon, one being able to sit
down for a while without his feet ``going.''
June arrived and with it much rough, cold weather. A boat was expected to
come to our relief, at the very latest, by the 30th. We had a very chilly
period during the middle of the month, and it was only by hand-feeding the
``jacket'' of the wireless motor that any work could be done by the station,
as the tank outside was almost frozen solid.
The tide-gauge clock broke down towards the end of the month, and though
I tried for days to get it going I was not successful. One of the springs
had rusted very badly as a result of the frequent ``duckings'' the clock
had experienced, and had become practically useless.
We had ascertained that the `Rachel Cohen' was still in Hobart, so on the
23rd I wirelessed asking when the boat was to sail. The reply came that
the `Rachel Cohen' was leaving Hobart on Thursday, June 26.
Our supply of kerosene oil was exhausted by the end of the month, despite
the fact that the rule of ``lights out at 1O P.M.'' had been observed for
some time. Thus we were obliged to use sea elephant oil in slush lamps.
At first we simply filled a tin with the oil and passed a rag through a
cork floating on the top, but a little ingenuity soon resulted in the production
of a lamp with three Burners and a handle. This was made by Sandell out
of an old tea-pot and one, two or three burners could be lit as occasion
demanded. During meal times the whole three burners were used, but, as the
oil smoked and smelt somewhat, we generally blew out two as soon as the
meal was finished. This was the ``general'' lamp, but each man had, as well,
one of his own invention. Mine was scornfully referred to as the ``house-boat,''
since it consisted of a jam tin, which held the oil, standing in a herring
tin which caught the overflow.
At the end of June, Blake and I surveyed all the penguin rookeries round
about ``The Nuggets'' and, allowing a bird to the square foot, found that
there must have been about half a million birds in the area. The sealers
kill birds from these rookeries to the number of about one hundred and thirty
thousand yearly, so that it would seem reasonable to suppose that, despite
this fact, there must be an annual increase of about one hundred thousand
birds.
The end of the month arrived and, on making inquiries, we
found that there was no news of the `Rachel Cohen' having left Hobart. We
had enough flour to last a fortnight, and could not get any from the sealers
as they possessed only three weeks' supply themselves. However, on July
8, Bauer came across and offered to let us have some wheatmeal biscuits
as they had a couple of hundredweights, so I readily accepted twenty pounds
of them. We now had soup twice a day, and managed to make it fairly thick
by adding sago and a few lentils. Cornflour and hot water flavoured with
cocoa made a makeshift blanc-mange, and this, with sago and tapioca, constituted
our efforts towards dessert.
On the 12th I received a message stating that the `Rachel Cohen' had sailed
on July 7; news which was joyfully received. We expected her to appear in
ten or twelve days.
On the 18th we used the last ounce of flour in a small batch of bread, having
fully expected the ship to arrive before we had finished it. Next day Bauer
lent us ten pounds of oatmeal and showed us how to make oatmeal cakes. We
tried some and they were a complete success, though they consisted largely
of tapioca, and, according to the respective amounts used, should rather
have been called tapioca cakes.
When the 22nd arrived and no ship showed up, I went across to see what the
sealers thought of the matter, and found that they all were of opinion that
she had been blown away to the eastward of the island, and might take a
considerable time to ``make'' back.
On this date we came to the end of our meats, which I had been dealing out
in a very sparing manner, just to provide a change from sea elephant and
weka. We had now to subsist upon what we managed to catch. There were still
thirty-five tins of soup, of which only two tins a day were used, so that
there was sufficient for a few weeks. But we found ourselves running short
of some commodity each day, and after the 23rd reckoned to be without bread
and biscuit.
At this juncture many heavy blows were experienced, and on the 24th a fifty-mile
gale accompanied by a tremendous sea beat down on us, giving the `Rachel
Cohen' a very poor chance of ``making'' the island. Our last tin of fruit
was eaten; twelve tins having lasted us since March 31, and I also shared
the remaining ten biscuits amongst the men on the 24th. We were short of
bread, flour, biscuits, meats, fish, jam, sugar and milk, but had twenty
tins of French beans, thirty tins of cornflour, some tapioca, and thirty
tins of soup, as well as tea, coffee and cocoa in abundance. We had not
been able to catch any fish for some days as the weather had been too rough,
and, further, they appeared to leave the coasts during the very cold weather.
Sea elephants were very scarce, and we invariably had to walk some distance
in order to get one; each man taking it in turn to go out with a companion
and carry home enough meat for our requirements. We were now eating sea
elephant meat three times a day (all the penguins having migrated) and our
appetites were very keen. The routine work was carried on, though a great
deal of time was occupied in getting food.
Bauer very generously offered to share his biscuits with us, but we fellows,
while appreciating the spirit which prompted the offer, unanimously declined
to accept them. We now concluded that something had happened to the ship,
as at the end of July she had been twenty- four days out.
On August 3 we had a sixty-three-mile gale and between 1 and 2 A.M. the
velocity of the wind frequently exceeded fifty miles per hour. Needless
to say there was a mountainous sea running, and the Rachel Cohen, if she
had been anywhere in the vicinity, would have had a perilous time.
A message came to me on August 6 from the Secretary of the Expedition, saying
that the `Rachel Cohen' had returned to New Zealand badly damaged, and that
he was endeavouring to send us relief as soon as possible. I replied, telling
him that our food-supply was done, but that otherwise we were a l right
and no uneasiness need be felt, though we wished to be relieved as soon
as possible.
Splendid news came along on the 9th to the effect that the New Zealand Government's
steamer `Tutanekai' would tranship our stores from the `Rachel Cohen' on
the 15th and sail direct for the island.
Sawyer now became ill and desired me to make arrangements for his return.
I accordingly wired to the Secretary, who replied asking if we could manage
without an operator. After consulting Sandell, I answered that Sandell and
I together could manage to run the wireless station.
Everybody now looked forward eagerly to the arrival of the `Tutanekai',
but things went on as before. We found ourselves with nothing but sea elephant
meat and sago, with a pound-tin of French beans once a week and two ounces
of oatmeal every morning.
We heard that the Tutanekai did not leave as expected on the 15th, but sailed
on the afternoon of the 17th, and was coming straight to Macquarie Island.
She was equipped with a wireless telegraphy outfit, which enabled us on
the 18th to get in touch with her; the operator on board stating that they
would reach us early on
the morning of the 20th.
On the evening of the 19th we gave Sawyer a send-off dinner; surely the
poorest thing of its kind, as far as eatables were concerned, that has ever
been tendered to any one. The fare consisted of sea elephant's tongue ``straight,''
after which a bottle of claret was cracked and we drank heartily to his
future prosperity.
At 7.30 A.M. on the 20th the `Tutanekai' was observed coming up the east
coast, and as we had ``elephanted'' at 6 A.M. we were ready to face the
day. I went across to the sealers' hut and accompanied Bauer in the launch
to the ship, which lay at anchor about a mile from the shore. We scrambled
on board, where I met Captain Bollons. He received me most courteously,
and, after discussing several matters, suggested landing the stores straight
away. I got into the launch to return to the shore, but the wind had freshened
and was soon blowing a fresh gale. Still, Bauer thought we should have no
difficulty and we pushed off from the ship. The engine of the launch failed
after we had gone a few yards, the boat was blown rapidly down the coast,
and we were eventually thrown out into the surf at ``The Nuggets.'' The
Captain, who witnessed our plight, sent his launch in pursuit of us, but
its engines also failed. It now became necessary for the crew of the whale-boat
to go to the assistance of the launch. However, they could do nothing against
the wind, and, in the end, the ship herself got up anchor, gave the two
boats a line and towed them back to the former anchorage. The work of unloading
now commenced, though a fairly heavy surf was running. But the whaleboat
of the `Tutanekai' was so dexterously handled by the boatswain that most
of our stores were landed during the day.
Sawyer went on board the `Tutanekai' in the afternoon, thus severing his
connexion with the Expedition, after having been with us on the island since
December 1911. On the following morning, some sheep, coal and flour were
landed, and, with a whistled good-bye, the `Tutanekai' started north on
her visit to other islands.
Our short period of stress was over and we all felt glad. From that time
onwards we ate no more elephant meat ``straight.'' A sheep was killed just
as the `Tutanekai' left, and we had roast mutton, scones, butter, jam, fruit
and rice for tea. It was a rare treat.
All the stores were now brought up from the landing-place, and as I had
put up several extra shelves some weeks previously, plenty of room was found
for all the perishable commodities inside the Shack.
The beginning of September found me fairly busy. In addition to the meteorological
work, the results of which were always kept reduced and entered up, I had
to work on Wireless Hill during the evening and make auroral observations
on any night during which there was a display, attending to the stores and
taking the week of cooking as it came along.
Blake and Hamilton went down the island for several days on September 3,
since they had some special observations to make in the vicinity of Sandy
Bay.
The sea elephant season was now in progress, and many rookeries were well
formed by the middle of the month. The skuas had returned, and on the 19th
the advance-guard of the Royal penguins arrived. The gentoos had established
themselves in their old ``claims,'' and since the 12th we had been using
their eggs for cooking.
Early in September time-signals were received from Melbourne, and these
were transmitted through to Adelie Land. This practice was kept up throughout
the month and in many cases the signals were acknowledged.
Blake and Hamilton returned to the Shack on the 24th, but left again on
the 30th, as they had some more photographic work to do in the vicinity
of Green Valley and Sandy Bay.
Blake made a special trip to Sandy Bay on October 30 to bring back some
geological specimens and other things he had left there, but on reaching
the spot found that the old hut had been burned to the ground, apparently
only a few hours before, since it was still smouldering. Many articles were
destroyed, among which were two sleeping-bags, a sextant, gun, blankets,
photographic plates, bird specimens and articles of clothing. It was presumed
that rats had originated the fire from wax matches which had been left lying
on a small shelf.
On November 9 we heard that the `Aurora' would leave Hobart on the 19th
for Antarctica, picking us up on the way and landing three men on the island
to continue the wireless and meteorological work.
We sighted the `Rachel Cohen' bearing down on the island on November 18,
and at 5.15 P.M. she came to an anchorage in North-East Bay. She brought
down the remainder of our coal and some salt for Hamilton for the preservation
of specimens.
On the next night it was learned that the `Aurora' had left Hobart on her
way South, expecting to reach us about the 28th, as some sounding and dredging
were being done en route.
Everybody now became very busy making preparations for departure. Time passed
very quickly, and November 28 dawned fine and bright. The `Rachel Cohen',
which had been lying in the bay loading oil, had her full complement on
board by 10 A.M., and shortly afterwards we trooped across to say
good-bye to Bauer and the other sealers, who were all returning to Hobart.
It was something of a coincidence that they took their departure on the
very day our ship was to arrive. Their many acts of kindness towards us
will ever be recalled by the members of the party, and we look upon our
harmonious neighbourly association together with feelings of great pleasure.
A keen look-out was then kept for signs of our own ship, but it was not
until 8 P.M. that Blake, who was up on the hill side, called out, ``Here
she comes,'' and we climbed up to take in the goodly sight. Just visible,
away in the north-west, there was a line of thin smoke, and in about half
an hour the `Aurora' dropped anchor in Hasselborough Bay.
CHAPTER XXVIII
- THE HOMEWARD CRUISE
