10 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH POLE 



where the work was divided among the various vessels. 

 As to the results of this expedition it is difficult to 

 express an opinion. Certain it is that Wilkes Land has 

 subsequently been sailed over in many places by several 

 expeditions. Of what may have been the cause of this 

 inaccurate cartography it is impossible to form any 

 opinion. It appears, however, from the account of 

 the whole voyage, that the undertaking was seriously 

 conducted. 



Then the bright star appears the man whose name 

 will ever be remembered as one of the most intrepid 

 polar explorers and one of the most capable seamen 

 the world has produced Admiral Sir James Clark 

 Ross. 



The results of his expedition are well known. Ross 

 himself commanded the Erebus and Commander Francis 

 Crozier the Terror. The former vessel, of 370 tons, 

 had been originally built for throwing bombs; her 

 construction was therefore extraordinarily solid. The 

 Terror, 340 tons, had been previously employed in 

 Arctic waters, and on this account had been already 

 strengthened. In provisioning the ships every possible 

 precaution was taken against scurvy, with the dangers 

 of which Ross was familiar from his experience in 

 Arctic waters. 



The vessels sailed from England in September, 1839, 

 calling at many of the Atlantic Islands, and arrived in 

 Christmas Harbour, Kerguelen Land, in the following 



