160 Bibliography. 
cided spots of earth upon them. On the 18th the land appeared high, 
rounded and covered with snow, resembling that first discovered, and: 
seemed to be bound by perpendicular icy cliffs. On the 14th the land 
was very distinct—seventy five miles of coast being in view at waives 
and the land three thousand feet high.* 
. They landed on one of the largest of the icebergs and found imbedded 
in it, in places, boulder-stones, gravel, sand,and mud or clay. The largest 
specimens were of red sandstone and basalt, and there was an icy con- 
glomerate—large pieces of rocks being united by very hard and flinty 
ice. The largest boulder was about five or six feet in diameter, but 
being in an inaccessible position it could not be obtained. Many spe- 
cimens were procured, and all were eager to acquire portions of the Ant- 
arctic continent. ‘In the centre of this iceberg was a pond of most 
delicious water, over which was a scum of ice about ten inches thick. 
This pond was three feet deep, extending over an area of an acre, and 
contained sufficient water for half a dozen ships. ‘The temperature of 
the water was 31°.” They remained upon this iceberg several hours, 
and the men amused themselves by sliding down hill. Around the 
iceberg, were many species ef zoophytes. On the 15th they pees 
many icebergs much discolored with earth and stones. 
Whales were numerous as well as penguins, Cape pigeons and other 
birds ; the icebergs were covered with penguins. -On the 17th, the 
Reatier was seen running N. and S. as far as the eye could reach; they 
had penetrated a bay fifty or sixty miles deep, and having coasted along 
its southern side they returned by the northern, the weather giving om- 
inous indications. Many whales were met with and their curiosity 
seemed awakened by the ship; they were very large fin-backs, and 
familiarly approached the vessel, blowing at the same time like loco- 
motives, and their presence was any thing but agreeable. 
The aurora was again seen in great splendor ina perfectly clear sky, 
“darting from the zenith to the horizon in all directions, in the most 
brilliant coruscations; it flashed in brilliant pencilings of light, like 
sparks of electric fluid in vacuo, and reappeared again to vanish ; form- 
ing themselves into one body like an. umbrella, or fan, shut up; again 
emerging to flit across the sky with the rapidity of light, they showed 
all the prismatic colors at once or in quick succession; even the sailors 
exclaimed in admiration of their beauty, which was best seen when the 
observer was lying on his back and looking up.” There was no effect 
on the electrometer. 
‘* Large icebergs had now become very numerous and the ship passed 
through the thickest of them; upwards of one hundred could be count- 
* By approximate measurement. 
