io THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' 



of the earth in a high latitude, discovered Graham Land, 

 which, although connected with lands already known to the 

 sealing community, gave a considerable extension to them. 



Another voyage of great importance was made by John 

 Balleny, also under the auspices of the enterprising firm of 

 Enderby. Balleny started his voyage of discovery from New 

 Zealand, in 1839, sailing in a schooner, the 'Eliza Scott,' in 

 company with the cutter ' Sabrina.' He crossed the Antarctic 

 Circle in longitude 177 E., but, unlike former voyagers, 

 directed his course to the west instead of the east. On 

 February 9 he discovered the group of islands which bear his 

 name, and which I shall describe more fully in the course of 

 my narrative. From this region Balleny was obliged to steer 

 to the N.W., but later he was able to turn to the south again, 

 and on March 2, when in latitude 64.58 S., longitude 121 E., 

 he made the following laconic entry in his log : ' Saw land to 

 the southward, the vessel surrounded by drift-ice.' On the 

 following day he noted ' every appearance of land,' and other 

 entries tell of the large number of birds seen. On such 

 slender evidence rests Sabrina Land, and yet after personally 

 demonstrating the accuracy of Balleny's observations with 

 reference to his islands, I should be sorry to undertake to sail 

 over the spot where he ' saw land to the southward.' Balleny 

 was evidently a man of few words, but of his ability as a 

 navigator there can be no doubt. 



This ends a brief retrospect of the discoveries made in 

 connection with the whaling and sealing industries of the 

 south, and shows that it is entirely honourable to the commer- 

 cial enterprise of our country ; for to the disinterested exertions 

 of Mr. Charles Enderby and to the zeal of his officers was due 

 the discovery of Graham Land, Enderby Land, Sabrina Land, 

 Kemp Land, and the Balleny Islands, whilst with an English 

 sealer, Weddell, rested the honour of having achieved the 

 highest southern latitude. 



The necessarily bald outline of fact which it is alone 

 possible to give in these pages can convey no idea of the 

 extraordinary hardships and difficulties successfully overcome 



