If one could be certain firstly, that these big areas extend to the south, and, secondly, that the ship could go through them, it would be worth getting up steam.

We have arrived at the edge of one of these floes, and the ship will not go through under sail, but I'm sure she would do so under steam.

Is this a typical floe?
And are there more ahead?
One of the ponies got down this afternoon--Oates thinks it was probably asleep and fell, but the incident is alarming; the animals are not too strong.

On this account this delay is harassing--otherwise we should not have much to regret.
_Saturday, December_ 17 .-- 67 deg.

24'.