HOMEWARD BOUND. 87 



rent 0.8 knot per hour, setting N, 72° E. Barometer 

 at midnight 30.01, temperature 46°. 



December 2. Light airs and calms in forenoon, 

 followed by gentle breeze in afternoon from N.VV. 

 Long heavy swell from S.E. Pleasant weather. Cur- 

 rent 0.5 knots per hour, setting N. 51° E. Barometer 

 at midnight 30.12, temperature 48°. This day was also 

 devoted to drying and putting things to rights. 



December 3. Light breeze from the N.W. duriug 

 the whole day. At 9.15 a.m. hauled up mainsail and 

 started fires. At 12.43 p-^^- took in all sail, coupled up, 

 then sounded in 1895 fathoms, lat. 49° 39' S., long. 120° 

 54' W. Wire parted at 97 fathoms while reeling in, 

 caused by a defect in the wire. At 1.45 p.m. made sail,, 

 uncoupled, hauled fires. Heavy sea from S.E., with 

 an occasional long swell from S.W. and also from N.W., 

 causing a peculiar state of the sea. No current ob- 

 served. Barometer at midnight 30-14. temperature 47°. 



December 4. Light to moderate breeze during the 

 day from N.W., with occasional long swell from the 

 eastward. At 8 a.m. hauled up weather clew of main- 

 sail and started fires. At 11.45 took in all sail, then 

 sounded in 1690 fathoms, lat. 49° 49' S., long. 118° 38' 

 W. ; hard bottom. At 12.45 p.m. made sail to studding- 

 sails, uncoupled, banked fires. As there was such a 

 marked decrease in depth I decided to take another 

 cast before dark, and at 7.25 p.m. shortened and furled 

 sail, then sounded in 1562 fathoms, lat. 49° 51' S., long. 

 117° 36 W. ; light gray sand, broken shells. At 8.20 



