Tuesday 12 Dec. [Actually December 11]

Lovely weather. Almost calm and partly clear. Ca. –25°. Same fine going and terrain.

According to the hypsometer, we are descending, although quite gently. Possibly it is only the weather conditions that explain this. The meridian altitude, which was shot under the most favourable conditions – calm, clear sharply defined sun and horizon likewise gave 89°6'. That is to say dead reckoning was once more in agreement. We have done our usual 17 nautical miles and are now lying at 89°15' – 3 day’s march from our goal.

This transcript comes from “Race for the South Pole - The Expedition Diaries of Scott and Amundsen” by Roland Huntford. It appears by courtesy of the author and The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.