1773. ROUND THE WORLD. 73 



took nine azimuths, with Dr. Knight's compass, 

 which gave the variation 40 7' ; and nine others, 

 with Gregory's, which gave 40 15' west. 



This day, at noon, being nearly in the latitude 

 and longitude just mentioned, we thought we saw 

 land to the S.W. The appearance was so strong, 

 that we doubted not it was there in reality, and 

 tacked to work up to it accordingly ; having a light 

 breeze at south, and clear weather. We were, how- 

 ever, soon undeceived, by finding that it was only 

 clouds ; which, in the evening, entirely disappeared, 

 and left us a clear horizon, so that we could see a 

 considerable way round us ; in which space nothing 

 vvas to be seen but ice islands. 



In the night, the Aurora Australis made a very 

 brilliant and luminous appearance. It was seen first 

 in the east, a little above the horizon ; and, in a 

 short time, spread over the whole heavens. 



The 21st, in the morning, having little wind and 

 a smooth sea, two favourable circumstances for taking 

 up ice, I steered for the largest ice-island before us, 

 which we reached by noon. At this time, we were 

 in the latitude of 59 south, longitude 92 30' east ; 

 having, about two hours before, seen three or four 

 penguins. Finding here a good quantity of loose 

 ice, I ordered two boats out, and sent them to take 

 some on board. While this was doing, the island, 

 which was not less than half a mile in circuit, and 

 three or four hundred feet high above the surface 

 of the sea, turned nearly bottom up. Its height, by 

 this circumstance, was neither increased nor dimi- 

 nished, apparently. As soon as we had got on board 

 as much ice as we could dispose of, we hoisted in 

 the boats, and made sail to the S. E., with a gentle 

 breeze at N. by E., attended with showers of snow, 

 and dark gloomy weather. At this time, we had but 

 few ice-islands in sight ; but the next day, seldom 

 less than twenty or thirty were seen at once. 



The wind gradually veered to the east, and, at 



