ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 113 



valleys and lakes, domes supported by round transparent 

 columns of cerulian hue, and cities and palaces as ■white as the 

 purest alabaster. The liveliest imagination could not paint 

 to itself a scene more rich and grand, and we stood gazing 

 at it with astonishment and admiration until it was again 

 enveloped in the fog. 



January 16th. Towards noon the wind shifted to the 

 northward, and at 8 P. M., to the southward and eastward, 

 when it also became very light. Weather, during the first 

 part, thick ; during the latter part, mild and pleasant. In the 

 afternoon sounded with 250 fathoms line — no bottom. Tem- 

 perature at that depth 31°, the same as at the surface. Dur- 

 ing the day passed through great quantities of drift ice ; saw 

 several whales, a seal, and a great number of snow-birds. 

 Latitude at noon 6Q° 00' 02" south, longitude 156° 02' 00" 

 east. 



January 17th. Commenced with light airs from the south- 

 ward, and thick weather. Lay-to from 1 to 3.30 A. M., when 

 it cleared off. At 4 P. M. the wind shifted again to the west- 

 ward. At 6.15 P. M. we descried two sail — one to wind- 

 ward and the other to leeward — proved to be the " Peacock" 

 and " Porpoise ;" passed several icebergs of a pinnacle-shape. 

 We have now reached the latitude of 66° 26 00" south, and 

 our nights are only four hours long. The weather has be- 

 come more mild since the fog has disappeared, and being 

 able to see our way among the ice-islands, we are making a 

 fine progress. 



January 19th. Yesterday nothing worthy of notice tran- 

 spired. This morning we found ourselves in a large bay ; the 

 " Peacock" was in sight, and appeared to be standing to the 

 westward. The water has a green appearance, but we have 

 not been able to obtain bottom. It is believed by many of us 



