SECOND VOYAGE 155 



before they had received several hard knocks from the 

 larger pieces, which, with all their care, ,they could not 

 avoid. After clearing one danger they still had another 

 to encounter ; the weather remained foggy, and many 

 large islands lay in their way. One they were very near 

 falling aboard of ; and if it had happened, this circumstance 

 would never have been related. These difficulties deter- 

 mined them to get more to the north. 



On the 21st, they very suddenly got in amongst a cluster 

 of very large ice islands, and a vast quantity of loose pieces ; 

 and as the fog was exceedingly thick, it was with the 

 utmost difficulty they wore clear of them. They were now 

 in lat. 67 5' S. 



On the 23rd, the wind being pretty moderate, and the sea 

 smooth, they brought to, at the outer edge of the ice, 

 hoisted out two boats, and sent to take some up. The 

 snow froze to the rigging as it fell, making the ropes like 

 wires, arid the sails like boards or plates of metal. 



While they were taking up ice, they got two of the 

 antarctic peterels. They are about the size of a large 

 pigeon ; the feathers of the head, back, and part of the 

 upper side of the wings, are of a light brown ; the belly 

 and under side of the wings white ; the tail feathers are 

 also white, but tipped with brown. These birds are fuller 

 of feathers than any they had hitherto seen ; such care has 

 nature taken to clothe them, suitable to the climate in which 

 they live. 



On the 30th of January, 1774, very early in the morning, 

 they perceived the clouds, over the horizon to the south, 

 to be of an unusual snow white brightness, which they knew 

 denoted their approach to field ice. Soon after they were 

 close to its edge. It extended east and west, far beyond 

 the reach of their sight. In the situation they were in, 

 just the southern half of the horizon was illuminated by 

 the rays of light reflected from the ice, to a considerable 

 height. Ninety-seven ice-hills were distinctly seen within 

 the field, besides those on the outside ; many of them very 

 large, and looking like a ridge of mountains, rising one 

 above another, till they were lost in the clouds. The outer 

 or northern edge of this immense field was composed of 

 loose or broken ice closely packed together ; so that it was 

 not possible for any thing to enter it. This was about a 

 mile broad ; within which was solid ice in one continued, 

 compact body. It was rather low and flat, except the hills, 

 but seemed to increase in height to the south ; in which 

 direction it extended beyond their sight. 



Captain Cook says, " I will not say it was impossible 

 anywhere to get farther to the south ; but the attempting 



