278 THE SEA. 



described as flat at its top, about fifty feet in height, and half a mile in circuit. A large 

 number of penguins and other birds were on these bergs, and this was deemed a reason 

 for thinking land near. The ice islands yielded excellent fresh water, large detached lumps 

 being taken on board and the sea water allowed to drain off on deck, when there was hardly 

 a trace of salt perceptible to the taste. Part of it was kept as ice, while a quantity 

 was melted in coppers. Cook said that it was the most expeditious way of watering he had 

 seen. In the middle of February they had fair weather, with clear serene nights, when 

 the beautiful Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, were seen. " The officer of the watch 

 observed that it sometimes broke out in spiral rays, and in a circular form ; then its light 

 was very strong, and its appearance beautiful. He could not perceive that it had any 

 particular direction, for it appeared at various times in different parts of the heavens, 

 and diffused its light throughout the whole atmosphere." Bad weather followed, making 

 navigation dangerous among the bergs, while it was bitterly cold. A litter of nine pigs 

 was killed a few hours after their birth by the cold, in spite of all the care taken to preserve 

 them. This was in the Antarctic summer, which, however, improved considerably after- 

 wards. Captain Cook was then tempted to advance a few degrees to the south, but soon 

 altered his mind when the weather again changed for the worse. 



It was not till the 31st of January, 1775, on the same voyage, that Cook, who had 

 become " tired of these high southern latitudes, where nothing was to be found but ice 

 and thick fogs/' made a discovery of land. They had been sailing over a sea strewed 

 with ice, when the fog lifting, three rocky islets of considerable elevation disclosed themselves 

 at a distance of three or four miles, one terminating in a lofty peak like a sugar-loaf. It 

 was named Freezeland Peak. To the east of this a high coast, with lofty snow-clad summits, 

 appeared, and soon another broken coast-line came in sight, to which the name of Southern 

 Thide was given, as it was the most southerly land yet discovered. Other coasts, promon- 

 tories, and mountains, soon came in view, which Cook tells us had land apparently between 

 them, leading him to the conclusion that the whole was connected. Prudence forbade him 

 venturing nearer the coast. The reader must remember that his were not the days of steam. 



New land appeared next morning, with outlying islands, named the Candlemas Isles 

 in honour of the day on which they were discovered. The whole of the new land was 

 named Sandwich Land, and was supposed to be either a group of islands., or the point of 

 a continent. Cook firmly believed in a tract of land near the Pole as the source of most 

 of the icebergs in those seas, but did not attempt a further exploration. 



It was not till the year 1819 that the commander of the brig William, Mr. William 

 Smith, sailing south-east from the latitude of Cape Horn, noted in latitude 62 30' S. 

 and longitude 60 W., an extensive snow-covered land, on the coasts of which seals were 

 abundant. As he was bound with a cargo to Valparaiso, he could not follow up his dis- 

 covery ; but on arrival at that port informed H.B.M. Consul, Captain Sheriff, of the fact 

 he had ascertained, and that gentleman dispatched Mr. Edward Barnsfield, master of the 

 frigate Andromache, to explore the new-found land. It was found to consist of a group 

 of islands, numbering twelve, with innumerable rocky islets between them. There was 

 little doubt that it was a part of the same land sighted by Gerritz more than two centuries 

 before, and now known as the South Shetlands. They were further explored in 1820 by Mr. 



