The sea is blue before us, dotted with shining bergs or ice floes, whilst far over the Sound, yet so bold and magnificent as to appear near, stand the beautiful Western Mountains with their numerous lofty peaks, their deep glacial valley and clear cut scarps, a vision of mountain scenery that can have few rivals.
'Ponting is the most delighted of men; he declares this is the most beautiful spot he has ever seen and spends all day and most of the night in what he calls "gathering it in" with camera and cinematograph.' The wind has been boisterous all day, to advantage after the last snow fall, as it has been drifting the loose snow along and hardening the surfaces.

The horses don't like it, naturally, but it wouldn't do to pamper them so soon before our journey.

I think the hardening process must be good for animals though not for men; nature replies to it in the former by growing a thick coat with wonderful promptitude.

It seems to me that the shaggy coats of our ponies are already improving.

The dogs seem to feel the cold little so far, but they are not so exposed.
A milder situation might be found for the ponies if only we could picket them off the snow.
Bowers has completed his southern storeroom and brought the wing across the porch on the windward side, connecting the roofing with that of the porch.