280 balleny's discovery. [1840. 



coast in sight at any one time, computed to be about seventy- 

 five miles in length, and its highest land attaining an eleva- 

 tion of three thousand feet, was discovered in latitude (55 a 59' 

 40" S., and longitude 106° 18' 42". On the same day, the 

 progress of the Porpoise was checked by an immense wall 

 of ice trending far to the north, and she then commenced her 

 return, arriving at the Bay of Islands on the 26th of March. 

 The Vincennes was stopped by the same barrier on the 17th 

 instant, whereupon her head was turned towards Van Diemen's 

 Land. Unfavorable winds cut her off from Hobarton, and she 

 proceeded to Sydney, where she joined the Peacock on the 11th 

 of March. 



During this cruise, a line of coast, plainly visible, except 

 at occasional intervals, was discovered, between the 104th and 

 159th meridians, eastern longitude, and the parallels of 64° 

 and 67°. The furthest point south which the vessels were 

 able to reach was Disappointment Bay, in latitude 67° 04' 

 30" S., and longitude 147° 30' E. A very near approach was 

 made to the magnetic pole, which, according to the observa- 

 tions obtained, was supposed to be in about latitude 70° S., 

 and longitude 140° E. 



(3.) Other discoveries by different navigators, prior or sub- 

 sequent to the explorations of the American squadron, have 

 verified what they saw, and contributed additional informa- 

 tion ; yet the merit of having made the first discovery of a 

 large body of land, supposed, though not absolutely proven, 

 to be an extensive continent, is clearly their due. Captain 

 Biscoe, the discoverer of Enderby Land, believed that he 

 saw detached portions of the same land in 1831, when in the 

 brig Tula. In July, 1838, Captain Balleny was sent out from 

 London, with two small vessels, owned by the Messrs. Enderby 

 and other merchants, under special instructions to push as 

 far south as possible, in search of land. In obedience thereto, 

 Captain Balleny proceeded along the 172d meridian, east lon- 

 gitude, as high as latitude 69° S. Then turning westward, 

 he discovered a group of islands, five in number, on the 9th 

 of February, 1839, in latitude 66° 44' S., and longitude 



