(Michael, Second Lieutenant on the National Antarctic Expedition 1901-04, 1877-1961) Autograph sledging note signed to Charles Royds delivered by Vinka, Armitage's pet Samoyed: South West Sledging journey, 1p., in pencil, 181 x 107mm., Camp [3 miles SE of Cape Armitage, Ross Island], 21st December 1902, on sledging difficulties, "Dear Royds, I am very much afraid we shall have to drop not only the pelsk bag, but probably a week of our own provisions off the point of White Island. I don't know when we are likely to get there as our speed is only between ¼ & ½ a mile an hour. If we drop anything, it will be ½' N of the nearest of the two points at the N end of White I[slan]d & will be marked with a large flag. The snow here is not quite so deep, but it is as much as ever we can do to start the sledges on ski, we cannot even start the first sledge," and sending the note back by Vinka, "I hope Vinka will turn up all right. We are going to starve her & do our best to send her back", and with a small pencil sketch of the drop off point of the provisions on White Island, folds, 3 small ink stains, slightly browned . A sledging note delivered by a dog. Barne's sledging party consisted of six men (Smythe, Plumley, Williamson, Crean, Weller) did not have a supporting party which was the normal way to send notes back to the ship. Unfortunately for Barne, when he left the ship two days earlier Armitage's pet dog had followed his sledging party. Barne did not have extra dog food to look after his senior officer's dog so he took the decision to starve her and send her back to the ship, hoping she would find her way, he attached this note to the dogs collar, tied on by a boot lace. Back at the ship at Winter Quarters Royds was astonished to receive the note. "December 21st 1902 Was very surprised to get a note from Barne this morning. He had seen Vinka following him yesterday, and so had kept her until morning, and then sent her back with a note tied to a boot lace round her neck. They have found the weights too heavy so are dropping some just short of the White Island." - Royds. The Diary of Lieutenant Charles W.R. Royds RN Expedition To The Antarctic 1901-1904, 2001.