IN THE FORTIES 151 



unfortunately the motor had to be stopped for cleaning, 

 and this prevented our approaching it by daylight. We 

 caught a glimpse of the land at dusk, which was, at all 

 events, enough to check our chronometers. 



South of the 20th degree of latitude the south-east 

 trade was nearly done with, and we were really not 

 sorry to be rid of it; it remained light and scant to the 

 last, and sailing on a wind is not a strong point with the 

 Fram. In the part of the ocean where we now were 

 there was a hope of getting a good wind, and it was 

 wanted if we were to come out right: we had now 

 covered 6,000 miles, but there were still 10,000 before 

 us, and the days went by with astonishing rapidity. 

 The end of October brought the change we wanted; 

 with a fresh northerly breeze she went gallantly south- 

 ward, and before the end of the month we were down in 

 lat. 40. Here we had reached the waters where we 

 were almost certain to have all the wind we wished, and 

 from the right quarter. From now our course was east- 

 ward along what is known as the southern west wind 

 belt. This belt extends between the 40th and 50th 

 parallels all round the earth, and is distinguished by the 

 constant occurrence of westerly winds, which as a rule 

 blow with great violence. We had put our trust in 

 these west winds; if they failed us we should be in a 

 mess. But no sooner had we reached their domain than 

 they were upon us with full force; it was no gentle 

 treatment that we received, but the effect was excellent 



