112 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



tops, with sides full of cavities, caused by the waves dashing 

 against them. 



About 9 P. M., we passed to the eastward of a point of 

 field-ice,* which proved to be the edge of a " barrier ;" stood 

 in to the southward until 10.35 P. M., when we found our- 

 selves completely embayed, having solid ice as far as could be 

 seen from the mast-heads, except to the northward. We are 

 now " hove-to" to wait for daylight. The barometer con- 

 tinues to stand at 30.00 inches, though the wind has hauled 

 around to the westward, and the temperature is two degrees 

 colder than yesterday. According to our observations the lati- 

 tude is 64 10' 00" south, and longitude 164 31/ 00" east. 



January 13th. At early dawn we made sail, and com- 

 menced to work along the " barrier" to the westward. About 

 9 P. M., it being very foggy, we lost sight of the " Porpoise," 

 and have not seen her since. The temperature is now 30, 

 and our decks and rigging are covered with ice. A great 

 number of icebergs have been seen, and owing to the thickness 

 of the weather, we came very near running into several. The 

 latitude by " dead reckoning " at meridian was 64 08' 00" 

 south, longitude 165 27' 00" east. 



January 14th. The weather continues thick and disagree- 

 able, but the wind has shifted to the northward and westward. 

 About noon the fog lifted for a short time, and we counted 

 .sixty icebergs in sight. They excited much curiosity, as they 

 presented a magnificent spectacle. Every fantastic form and 

 variety of tint was there. Masses, assuming the shape of a 

 Gothic church, with arched windows and doors, and all the 

 rich drapery of that style, composed, apparently, of crystal, 

 showing all the shades of opal, or of emerald green ; pillars 

 and inverted cones, pyramids and mounds of every shape, 



* A piece of ice go large that its extent cannot be seen. 



