18 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, tried every hour, under an impression that it might 

 ^-^y-^ apprise us of our approach to floating ice, when, 

 isS from the darkness of the night, or foggy weather, 

 it could not be seen ; a plan I would recommend 

 being adopted, as it may be useful, notwithstanding 

 its fallibility ; for though ice in detached masses, 

 when drifting fast with the wind, extends its influence 

 a very short way in the direction of its course : yet 

 on the other hand, its effect may be felt a consider- 

 able distance in its wake. We had only one warn- 

 ing of this nature, by a decrease of temperature of 

 four degrees, which lasted about an hour. The 

 temperature of the sea, at the greatest depth our 

 lines would reach, was not below 39°, 2. Off the 

 Falkland Islands, it was the same at 854 fathoms 

 as at 603 fathoms. The lowest temperature of the 

 air was 26°. The current, which at a distance from 

 the land runs fast to the eastward to the discomfi- 

 ture of ships bound in the opposite direction, near 

 the coast to the westward of Cape Horn, at first 

 entirely ceased, and afterwards took a contrary 

 course. There is much reason to believe that it 

 continues this north-westerly course, and ultimately 

 falls into the northerly current so prevalent along 

 the coast of Chili. 



The wind was now favourable for making pro- 

 gress to the northward. My instructions did not 

 direct me to proceed to any port on the coast of 

 Chili, but circumstances rendered it necessary to 

 put into one of them, and I selected Conception as 

 being the most desirable for our purpose. 



The weather had for a long time been cloudy ; 

 but on this night a clear sky presented to our view 

 a comet of unusual magnitude and brilliancy, situ- 



