i9] MOUNT EREBUS SIGHTED 55 



headed into a short steep swell, and for some hours the ship 

 pitched most uncomfortably. 



At 8 a.m. the ship was clear of the ice and headed south 

 with fore and aft sail set. She is lying easier on this course, 

 but there is still a good deal of motion, and would be more if 

 we attempted to increase speed. 



Oates reports that the ponies are taking it pretty well. 



Soon after 8 A.M. the sky cleared, and we have had brilliant 

 sunshine throughout the day; the wind came from the N.W. 

 this forenoon, but has dropped during the afternoon. We in- 

 creased to 55 revolutions at 10 A.M. The swell is subsiding 

 but not so quickly as I had expected. 



To-night it is absolutely calm, with glorious bright sunshine. 

 Several people were sunning themselves at 1 1 o'clock ! sitting on 

 deck and reading. 



The land is clear to-night. Coulman Island 75 miles west. 



Sounding at 7 P.M., 187 fathoms. 

 Sounding at 4 A.M., 310 " 



Monday, January 2. Obs. 75 3', 173 41'. Made good 

 S. 3 W. 119'; C. Crozier S. 22 W. 159'. It has been a glorious 

 night followed by a glorious forenoon; the sun has been shining 

 almost continuously. Several of us drew a bucket of sea water 

 and had a bath with salt water soap on the deck. The water was 

 cold, of course, but it was quite pleasant to dry oneself in the 

 sun. The deck bathing habit has fallen off since we crossed the 

 Antarctic circle, but Bowers has kept going in all weathers. 



There is still a good deal of swell difficult to understand 

 after a day's calm and less than 200 miles of water to wind- 

 ward. 



Wilson saw and sketched the new white stomached whale 

 seen by us in the pack. 



At 8.30 we sighted Mount Erebus, distant about 115 miles; 

 the sky is covered with light cumulus and an easterly wind has 

 sprung up, force 2 to 3. With all sail set we are making very 

 good progress. 



Tuesday, January 3,10 A.M. The conditions are very much 

 the same as last night. We are only 24 miles from C. Crozier 

 and the land is showing up well, though Erebus is veiled in 

 stratus cloud. 



