434 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA, AND ITS METEOROLOGY. 



with kno^Ti laws. According tx) these laws, we may as well ima- 

 gine the antarctic circle to encompass land as to encompass water. 

 We know, ocularly, but Httle more of its topographical features 

 than we do of those of one of the planets ; but, if they be conti- 

 nental, we surely may, without any unwarrantable stretch of the 

 imagination, relieve the face of nature there with snow-clad 

 mountams, and diyersify the landscape with flaming volcanoes. 

 None of these features are inconsistent with the phenomena dis- 

 played by the winds. Let us apply to other departments of 

 physics, and seek testimony from other sources of information. 

 None of the evidence to be gathered there will appear contra- 

 dictory — it is rather in corroboration. Southern explorers, as &r 

 as they have penetrated within the antarctic circle, tell us of high 

 lands and mountains of ice ; and Koss, who went farthest of all, 

 saw volcanoes burning in the distance. 



839. The unexplored area around the south pole is about twice 

 Their extent ; Hate as large as EuTopo. This untravellcd region is cir- 

 ^^' • cular in shape, the circumference of which does not 

 measure less than 7000 miles. Its edges have been penetrated 

 here and there, and land, whenever seen, has been high and rugged. 

 Plate Xiy. shows the utmost reach of antarctic exploration. The 

 unexplored area there is quite equal to that of our entire frigid 

 zone. Navigators on the voyage from the Cape of Good Hope to 

 Melbourne, and from Melbourne to Cape Horn, scarcely ever 

 ventm-e, except while passing Cape Horn, to go on the polar side 

 of 55^ S. The fear of icebergs deters them. These may be seen 

 there drifting up towards the equator in large numbers and large 

 masses all the year round. I have encountered them myself as 

 high up as the parallel of 37°— 8^ S. The belt of ocean that en- 

 circles this globe on the polar side of 55° S. is never free from ice- 

 bergs. They are found in all parts of it the year round. Many of 

 them are miles in extent and hundreds of feet thick. The area on 

 the polar side of the 55th parallel of south latitude comprehends a 

 space of 17,784,600 square miles. The nursery for the bergs, to 

 fill such a field, must be an immense one ; such a nursery cannot 

 be on the sea, for icebergs require to be fastened firmly to the 

 shore until they attain full size. They therefore, in their mute 

 way, are loud with evidence iu favour of antarctic shore lines of 

 great extent, of deep bays where they may be formed, and of lofty 

 cliffs whence they may be launched. 



840. There is another physical circumstance which obtaias 



