66 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
did exist. ‘There is every appearance, at present, 
however, of our being able before long of satisfying 
ourselves on this point; I shall therefore forbear to 
say any thing more on the subject until that period 
comes. Wesaw an immense number of whales again 
to-day, between thirty and forty being seen in 
every watch ; it has been remarked, that a great many 
of them were of a small size. I observed that they 
went in shoals in the same way that porpoises usually 
do, generally coming to the surface nearly about the 
same time, and diving in the same manner. We 
passed in the course of the day a great number of 
what is commonly called sea-blubber, (Medusa), on 
which I think it is very probable the whales feed ; 
for it isa sort of food well adapted to the formation 
of their mouth, requiring little or no mastication, an 
operation which the whale is by no means calculated 
to perform. 
As we came along to-day, we observed that the 
stream, or ledge of ice mentioned yesterday, still 
stretches to the westward, but so close in with the north 
land as to be no impediment in our way. Amongst 
it were seen this evening, three icebergs, but of so 
small a size that we would have hardly noticed them, 
had it not that so few have of late been seen. 
Tuesday, 3d.— We .made considerable  pro- 
gress to the westward to-day, being at noon (by 
chronometer) in longitude 80° 30’ W., and since that 
time we have had an excellent run, for at eight 
o’clock in the evening, we were by account in 82° W., 
and if the breeze continues but a few hours as it is 
now, we shall decide whether land exists where it is 
said to have been visible last year; at present the 
weather is perfectly clear, and there is nothing to be 
een tothe westward but a clear sea! 
