Douglas Mawson

“ The abundance of both plant and animal life, and especially the curious restrictions governing their range seemed, at first aquaintance, inexplicable. The biologist now drew attention to the fact that all the species represented were but curiously developed forms of types already known to the scientific world. They had suffered but little variation, though many had increased enormously in size. Furthermore, it was known that such species could at one stage or another in their life-history be transferred for great distances by wind agency. ”

“ The concoctions usually served up in Bathybia were purées which, being translated, simply meant freshly gathered this or that, immersed in pure river water, and brought to a temperature of 212° Fahr. for an hour or more.
Naturally more attention was now bestowed upon the denizens of the river, and indeed their abundance and variety surprised us. Minute organisms belonging to the rotifers and tardigrada abounded, whilst larger species occasionally came into view. We spent many an hour peering into the waters in search of new finds, and were abundantly rewarded by queer sights. ”

“ The existence of red coloured plants was of course to be expected, existing as they did in sunlight from which a large proportion of the blue end of the spectrum had been eliminated in its passage through so great a thickness of atmosphere. Finally, the vegetation had already become very rank, and the odours distinctive of some species were not at all pleasant.
However much the plant life interested us, it did not claim our attention so much as less pretentious examples of the animal kingdom. Small crawling spider-like beasts had been noted close below the glacier zone ”

“ The biologist reported the beast to have affinities between the water bears and the mites, but distinct from anything we had so far noted in Bathybia. We got to work with our ice axes and soon had him out. The body being more or less cylindrical, we found no trouble rolling our prize to the camp near by. In the first instance our intention for so doing was merely to astonish our comrades. However, the biologist, seeing the specimen still intact, asked that it might be spared till further investigated. ”

“ Executing evolutions in mid air
in our minds regarding the future source of our water supply. After traversing several shallow lakes, the matter became critical and we decided to moor up to the bank. The neighbouring country was almost deserted compared with the jungle left behind. The saline soil supported only stunted vegetation, except for occasional clumps of mushroom-like fungi standing on local elevations of the ground. We were some distance from camp, making a reconnaissance, when a heavy rain storm commenced. Perfect shelter was obtained beneath the umbrellas of the fungi. ”

“ With this object in view, we were careful always in future to keep our ice axes within reach.
Our first camp on the plains was never to be forgotten: most of the time intended for sleep was spent in ridding ourselves of an almost microscopic species of mite, which infested our camping ground and invaded our persons. We learnt that a camp in comfort could be expected here only after taking the precaution to previously burn off the vegetation from the site. ”

“ The vegetation, though luxuriant of its kind, grew much less dense, and we came at length to more or less open country. There plant life was represented by mushroom-like fungi arranged in clumps over the plain. ”

“ The summer temperature averaged about 70° Fahr., and was evenly toned by abundance of water vapour and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The air was distinctly oppressive on account of its density and moisture, but even this passed unheeded in the general excitement. The plant life had rapidly increased in abundance as lower altitudes were reached. These were chiefly algæ fungi, though representatives of the mosses, liverworts, and ferns were not wanting. On the plains, a dominant red colour pervaded the vegetation, owing to prolific growth of red algæ. ”

“ How could mortal man scale such a wall as barred our progress.
Whilst our thoughts ran thus, a better view being obtained to the South, we descried a steeply dipping slope leading from the plateau down to the depths below. This was developed in the form of a semicone against the face of the wall and appeared to be of volcanic origin. This volcanic slope was certainly quite scaleable, and we unanimously decided to attempt a descent by it. Many hours afterwards, camp was pitched on the plateau hard by the cone, and all were oblivious of the sounds of revelry occasioned by the snorers. ”

“ Since leaving the great salt basin of the central regions, our track had consistently risen. The total amount of this elevation now amounted to close on 6,000 feet. The jungle was fast becoming too dense to penetrate. ”