A SIMPLE STOEY 117 



mountain in the world — we have Seen it at night a hundred 

 , ^^ and fifty miles Distant. 



I^p We shapd. our Coarce a Long the land to the South East 

 '^^ a Distance of two hundred miles farther. On the 28th we 



i gy discoverd. Mount Erebus this splendid Burning Mountain 

 j^ Was truly an imposing Sight. 

 ^^m The height of this mountain Six thousand feet hight 

 with a gradual ascent from the Sea Shore. From the Sum- 

 mit of this mountain issues Continually Vast Clouds of Smoke 

 when Scatterd. about with the wind forms a Cloudy Surface 

 of Smoke a long the Surface of the mountain. 



At the west End of Mount Erebus it plainly appears there 

 has been a Desperate Eruption from the Craggy appearance 

 — it is Sufficient to Convince an accute observer. 



The south side of this Splendid mountain was Lost to our 

 view, Land and Ice obstructed the Scene. We did not land 

 here nor did we deem it Safe to Land neither ; we could not 

 see fire nor matter, the Sun Shone so brilliant on the Ice and 

 Snow it completely Dazzled our Eyes. Yet it is my firm belief 

 that this must be an imposing sight in the dark of winter. 



1^^ 



As to the Barrier, * or as I should call it nature's handiwork,' 

 hat could be more impressive than the artless record of how 

 the plain sailors were struck dumb by the wonderful sight, 

 and, if we read between the lines, felt that they need not be 

 ashamed of their emotion when their experienced Captain 

 himself was equally touched ? Thinking from the masthead 

 view that they would ' run down ' the barrier by midnight, 

 they set sail in the evening. 



But as far and as fast as we run the Barrier apperd. the 

 Same Shape and form as it did when we left the mountain. 

 We pursued a South Easterly Cource for the distance of 

 three hundred miles But the Barrier appeard. the Same as 

 when we Left the Land. On the first of Febry. we stood 

 away from the Barrier For five or six days and came up to it 

 again farther East, on the morning of the eight Do. we found 

 our Selves Enclosed in a beautiful bay of the barrier. 



All hands when they Came on Deck to view this the most 

 rare and magnificent Sight that Ever the human eye wit- 

 nessed Since the world was created actually Stood Motion- 



