SKIRTING THE ICE 341 



to the western pack-ice (that lying off South Victoria 

 Land) and steer along it till we were in Ross Sea, or, at 

 all events, until we found a place where we could easily 

 get through. It is quite possible that Ross was very 

 lucky in the time at which he encountered the ice, and 

 that he only sailed in clear weather. We had no time 

 to spare, however, but had to make use of whatever 

 wind there was, even if we could not see very far. 



As early as December 28, at 5 p.m., in lat. 65° S. 

 and long. 171'5° E., it was reported that we were 

 off the pack. I was a good deal surprised, as recent 

 expeditions had not met the pack until 66*5° S., or 

 about one hundred nautical miles farther south, nor had 

 there been any sign of our being so near the ice. The 

 wind for the last few days had been south-easterly, but 

 for the moment it was calm; we therefore held on to 

 the east along the edge of the pack, with the ice to 

 starboard. About midnight the wind freshened from the 

 north, and we lay close-hauled along the edge of the 

 ice till midday on the 29th, when the direction of the 

 ice became more southerly. The northerly wind, which 

 gradually increased to a stiff breeze, was good enough 

 for getting us on, but it must inevitably bring fog and 

 snow in its train. These came, sure enough, as thick 

 as a wall, and for a couple of days we sailed perfectly 

 blindly. 



Outside the pack-ice proper lie long streams of floes 

 and loose scattered lumps, which become more frequent 



