Bibliography. 159 
On the 31st, at 1 o’clock, A. M., they passed ice islands and just escap- 
ed the field ice; the scene of the former gale was renewed—only “ we 
were now passing to and fro among icebergs, immediately to the wind- 
ward of the barrier, and each tack brought us nearer to it.” The navi- 
gable space growing more and more narrow, they tacked and stood 
N.N. W. and passed icebergs of all dimensions and heavy floe-ice. 
After the gale had lasted 30 hours* it began to abate, when they again 
stood southward, and the commander decided again to seek the bay 
(Parier’s) which they had left and still farther to pursue the great object 
of obtaining a footing upon the terra firma of the new continent, al- 
though the medical officers and a majority of the other officers of the 
ship—on account of the bad health and exhaustion of the crew, recom- 
mended a return to the north. 
On the 2d of February, at 3 P. M., they were within two and a half 
miles of “the icy cliffs by which the land was bounded on ail sides. 
They were from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet in height, 
quite perpendicular, and there was no appearance whatever of rocks ; 
all was covered with ice and snow.” A long range of stranded weather- 
beaten icebergs, extended far to the west, but soundings were not ob- 
tained at one hundred and fifty fathoms. ‘* No break in the icy bar- 
rier, where a foot could be set on the rocks, was observable from aloft. 
The land still trended to the west as far as the wre could reach, and 
continued to exhibit the same character as before.” The high land 
was seen again in the afternoon, but the ice barrier prevented any 
nearer approach. . Snow rendered the ship damp and uncomfortable ; 
the sick.list was increasing, and the days were becoming shorter. They 
continued to coast along the icy barrier about one hundred and fifty 
feet high, beyond which the high land could be well distinguished. 
The barrier now trended south, and the sea was studded with icebergs. 
On the 9th the weather was very fine; the outline of the land was 
visible, and the icy barrier was very beautiful. At midnight there was 
asplendid display of the aurora australis, extending all around the 
northern horizon, from W. by N. to E. N. E. The spurs or brushes of 
light, frequently reached the zenith, converging to a point near it. The 
barrier ice was approached in many places and land was distinctly seen, 
eighteen to twenty miles distant, bearing S.S.E. to 8. W.; a lofty 
mountain range covered with snow, though showing many ridges and 
indentations.. The land was in about 65° 20’ S., and its trending near- 
ly E. and . 
The line of the icy barrier was generally uniform, although it was 
occasionally pierced with deep bays. Some icebergs were seen with de- 
* The barometer sunk to 28-59 inch. 
