Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T04:50:42.221Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mules of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

D. L. Harrowfield
Affiliation:
DSIR-Antarctic, New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, International Antarctic Centre, PO Box 14-091, Christchurch Airport, New Zealand

Abstract

Horses were first used in Antarctica when eight Manchurian ponies provided support for Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09). Scott's British Antarctic ‘Terra Nova’ Expedition (1910–13) used 17 ponies during its first year, and seven Indian mules in the following season. This paper presents new information on the mules, which suffered severely from the effects of an unbalanced diet and low temperatures. They were the last horses ever used to support an Antarctic expedition. In January 1989 when the stables of Scott's hut at Cape Evans were reclad and cleared of ice by a working party from the Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme), artefacts relating to their occupancy by Manchurian ponies and Indian mules were located.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Campbell, V. L. A. 1988. The wicked mate. Bluntisham, Bluntisham Books.Google Scholar
Cherry Garrard, A. 1922. The worst journey in the world. London, Constable.Google Scholar
Davies, F. E. C. 1911. With Scott—before the mast. By Rudolph. An account of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13. MS 125. Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.Google Scholar
Dennistoun, J. R. 1911. Diary of a voyage to Antarctica. MS 90, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.Google Scholar
Gran, T. 1984. The Norwegian with Scott. Trygve Gran's Antarctic diary 1910–13. London, HMSO.Google Scholar
Hooper, F. J. 1911. Diary of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13. MS 149, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.Google Scholar
Huxley, L. (editor). 1913. Scott's last expedition. London, Smith Elder.Google Scholar
Lyons, H. G. 1924. Miscellaneous data BAE 1910–13. London, Harrison.Google Scholar
Mason, T. K. 1979. The South Pole ponies. New York, Dodd, Mead.Google Scholar
Scott, R. F. 1911. Letters to Sir Douglas Haig and J. J. Kinsey, 22 January 1911. MS. 22, Kinsey Papers, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.Google Scholar
Taylor, T. G. 1916. With Scott: the silver lining. London, Smith Elder.Google Scholar
Wright, C. S. 1912. Diary of the British Antarctic Expedition. MS in Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge.Google Scholar