1 8 9 5- 



ANTARCTIC EXPLORA TION. 



On the 23rd of December the " Balaena " was joined by the 

 " Active " and a few hours later by the " Diana " ; the " Polar Star " 

 put in an appearance subsequently, as also the " Jason." Presently 

 seals were found to be numerous, and Capt. Fairweather, although 

 practically unrestricted in his actions, finding that there was no chance 

 of meeting with Right Whales, cleared the boats of their whaling gear 

 and availed himself of the only opportunity of making his voyage a 

 paying one. For this the Captain of the " Balaena " is severely taken 

 to task by Mr. Murdoch, and doubtless it was disappointing enough to 

 turn from the chances of new discoveries to the pursuit of " blubber " ; 



Thk Massacre of the Penguins. 

 The block kindly lent by Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co. 



but Mr. Murdoch was fully aware of the commercial character ot the 

 voyage and had no reason for complaint. His question — " Is it not 

 a hideous marvel that Dundonians should show such splendid enter- 

 prise as to send four ships out here for whales, and at the same 

 time show total disregard for the scientific possibilities of such a 

 cruise ? " is singularly out of place when Mr. Bruce and himself 

 had berths in the "Balaena"; while his severe strictures on Capt. 

 Fairweather's ignorance and cupidity (p. 244) are scarcely borne 

 out by the fact that the only two birds which reached the British 



