336 SQUALLS. [CHAP.V. 



moved slowly towards the southern point of the 

 island. Soon after a light breeze sprung up from 

 the south west, and several lanes and holes of 

 water shortly appeared in that and other direc- 

 tions, though the ice immediately round the 

 ship continued exactly the same. Over all these 

 places there was a dark horizontal cloud. The 

 atmosphere being favourable for seeing remote 

 objects, it was observed, that beyond what had 

 been thought the termination of Nottingham 

 Island, there was an extensive line of low circuit- 

 ous coast, apparently dipping into the water, or 

 rather losing itself in the ice ; and to the right of 

 it, at a bearing of S. 35° E., other land was de- 

 tected, which could be no other than one of 

 Diggers Islands. 



May 12. After midnight the breeze freshened 

 from E.S.E. and drifted us somewhat to the 

 N.W. along the land, now within a moderate 

 distance ; a fact curious enough, since no 

 pressure had occurred inshore to make any va- 

 cant space for an admission. Such, nevertheless, 

 was the case. In the forenoon the wind veered 

 to south and blew with considerable violence in 

 squalls, bringing light snow which dissolved 

 on the deck as it fell. An interesting event was 

 noticed by one of the officers yesterday evening : 

 Lieutenant M'Murdo was outside the ship on 

 the ice, and his attention being awakened by a 



