The surface of the plateau, though still jumbled with crevasses and ridges, was covered now with a hard layer of icy snow, which Bowers cheerfully called "quite a holiday" after the softer surface of the climb. [1]
In camp that night, Christmas Eve was celebrated with a four-course meal, which Scott described the next day in his diary: "The first [course], pemmican, full whack, with slices of horse meat flavoured with onion and curry powder and thickened with biscuit; then an arrowroot, cocoa and biscuit hoosh sweetened; then a plum-pudding; then cocoa with raisins, and finally a dessert of caramels and ginger. After the feast it was difficult to move. Wilson and I couldn't finish our share of plum-pudding. We have all slept splendidly and feel thoroughly warm -- such is the effect of full feeding." [2]
Amundsen
The first depot of the homeward journey, at 88° 25', was reached on Christmas day. They had indulged themselves at the Pole and overspent their chocolate allowance, going short for the past week or so since then as a result.
It was eight days' travelling to the next depot at 86° 26', 124 miles away. They now had twelve days' full rations for all, and a reserve of pemmican. "So we are well provided for. I am [therefore] putting aside a sample of each item of food that has been at the Pole," wrote Amundsen, adding drily, "The suppliers will presumably appreciate it." [4]
Having brought no extra food for Christmas, Wisting collected biscuit crumbs and with some powdered milk improvised a kind of pudding in the style of the traditional Norwegian risgrøt, or rice porridge. "Well now you are lighting the candles at home," Amundsen wrote. "We are together with you [in spirit], even if the distance is great. But wait a little -- after not too long, you will have us back again, and then with victory in our hands." [5]
"Ah how are you doing Mother," Bjaaland wrote wistfully, "hope you are well and enjoying life, will soon be seeing you." It was 600 more miles back to Framheim. "It will be a long hard yomp," he added. [6]
Notes:
[1] H.R. Bowers, diary, 24 December, 1911, quoted by Apsley Cherry-Garrard in The Worst Journey in the World, ch.X.
[2] R.F. Scott, diary, 25 December, 1911, in Scott's Last Expedition, v.1.
[3] Christie's.
[4] Roald Amundsen, diary, 25 December, 1911, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.498. It was, of course, Christmas day by the Norwegians' one-day-off reckoning (see the note in the sidebar).
[5] Roald Amundsen, diary, 25 December, 1911, quoted by Roland Huntford in Race for the South Pole : the expedition diaries of Scott and Amundsen (London : Continuum, c2010), p.204-205.
[6] Olav Bjaaland, diary, 25 December, 1911, quoted by Roland Huntford in Race for the South Pole : the expedition diaries of Scott and Amundsen (London : Continuum, c2010), p.205. "Yomp" is Royal Marines slang for a long-distance march carrying full kit, and Bjaaland is presumably using it in that sense; Huntford suggests that the word is back-formed from the Norwegian jump, "jump", pronounced "yomp".
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