177^' ROUND THE WORLD. 71 



gains. Ill the evening, being in the latitude of 

 55 49' south, longitude 75 5 C 2' east, the variation 

 was 34 48" west ; and in the evening of the 15th, 

 in latitude 57 % south, longitude 79 5& east, it was 

 38 west. Five seals were seen this day, and a few 

 penguins ; which occasioned us to sound, without 

 finding any bottom, with a line of 150 fathoms. 



At day-light in the morning of the 16th, we saw 

 an island of ice to the northward ; for which we 

 steered, in order to take some on board ; but the 

 wind shifting to that direction, hindered us from put- 

 ting this in execution. At this time we were in the 

 latitude of 57 8' south, longitude 80 59' east, 

 and had two islands of ice in sight. This morning 

 we saw one penguin, which appeared to be of the 

 same sort which we had formerly seen near the ice. 

 But we had now been so often deceived by these 

 birds, that we could no longer look upon them, nor 

 indeed upon any other oceanic birds, which frequent 

 high latitudes, as sure signs of the vicinity of land. 



The wind continued not long at north, but veered 

 to E. by N. E., and blew a gentle gale, with which 

 we stood to the southward ; having frequent showers 

 of sleet and snow. But in the night we had fair 

 weather, and a clear serene sky ; and between mid- 

 night and three o'clock in the morning, lights were 

 seen in the heavens, similar so those in the northern 

 hemisphere, known by the name of Aurora Borealis, 

 or northern lights ; but I never heard of the Aurora 

 Australis being seen before. The officer of the watch 

 observed, that it sometimes broke out in spiral rays, 

 and in a circular form ; then its light was very strong, 

 and its appearance beautiful. He could not perceive 

 it had any particular direction ; for it appeared, at 

 various times, in different parts of the heavens, and 

 diffused its light throughout the whole atmosphere. 



At nine in the morning, we bore down to an island 

 of ice, which we reached by noon. It was full half a 



f 4 



