HOMEWARD BOUND. 7 1 



November 8. The wind gradually backed from E. 

 by S. at I A.M. to S.E. at 3 p.m., then veered to N.E. by 

 E. near midnight, decreasing in force until the ship 

 made but one knot an hour. Sea quite smooth. Tem- 

 perature of surface-water both yesterday and to-day 

 varied from 54° to 58°, the change taking place in an 

 hour, evidently produced by a current. Found a cur- 

 rent averaging 0.5 knots an hour setting N. 71° E. At 

 midnight barometer 30.10, temperature 59°. 



November 9(1). Wind light from N.E. by N. to 

 N.N.E. until 9 p.m., when it veered to the northward 

 and westward, force variable. At 3.25 a.m. shortened 

 and furled sail, then sounded in 1320 fathoms, lat. 43° 07' 

 S., long. 178° ig E. ; gray ooze. After sounding, swung 

 ship for compass deviations. At 5.25 a.m. made sail, 

 uncoupled, hauled fires, and shaped a course to pass to 

 the southward of the Chatham Islands. Sea smooth 

 until afternoon, when the wind freshened, causing a 

 moderate sea by midnight. Current 0.6. knot an hour, 

 setting S. 54° W. At midnight barometer 29.98, tem- 

 perature 58°. 



November 9 (2). Crossed the i8oth meridian this 

 morning. At 6.25 a.m. started fires in two boilers and 

 took in mainsail. At 8.30 a.m. took in all sail, then 

 sounded in 224 fathoms, lat. 43° 37' S., long. 179° t,'/' 

 W. ; soft blue mud, black specks — a great change since 

 yesterday. We had evidently struck the edge of the 

 plateau of which tradition speaks. At 8.45 a.m. made 

 sail and banked fires. At i p.m. took in sail, then 



