OF THE ANTARCTIC VOYAGE. 275 
weeks in the Pack; this was in lat. 68°. and long. 160°. W. 
Here we found the edge of the Pack trend to the westward. At 
this time, the season was far advanced, and as, in the preced- 
ing year, we had been obliged to commence our retreat on 
the 9th of February, so Captain Ross did not think proper 
to re-enter the Pack, but proceeded along the edge to the west- 
ward. We went as far as 187° W., and then to southward 
and eastward, On the 20th, we experienced a gale, but in open 
water ; still, it was bad enough, not only because of the wind, 
but the spray coming over us was frozen ere reaching the 
deck, so that every thing soon became a mass of ice; coils of 
rope, and all, were covered several inches thick, and most of 
our running-gear about the bowsprit was carried away by 
. the weight of ice formed on them. 
At midnight, on the 21st of February, we came in sight 
of a berg, right ahead. After half an hour's beating at the 
frozen ropes, we managed to get the ship round, but the 
Erebus missed three times; however, we escaped without 
much damage, and again made for the south. On the 23rd, 
we came in sight of the grand Victoria Barrier, and as the 
day was fine, stood within a mile anda half of it, finally 
reaching 78°. 10/. S. lat., long. 162° W., having got six miles 
farther than we did the year before. Under all circum- 
Stances, this was more than we expected; for after being de- 
tained so long in the Pack, and the season closing so fast, 
we had little prospect of attaining so much; and although 
we had not discovered any land, all the magnetic and other 
Observations are very satisfactory, and the position of the Pole 
more fully verified. Not being able to proceed to the east- 
_ Ward, we were compelled to begin our retreat, which we did, 
tracing the Pack edge. 
On the 5th of March, we re-crossed the Antarctic circle, 
and saw but a few icebergs. On the night of the 12th, or 
- Father morning of the 13th, for it was a little after mid- 
. Right, the night being pitch dark and stormy, with a 
heavy sea, in lat. 60°., we were running east, wind 
scarcely aft, when suddenly we found ourselves close to a 
