Aurora australis. Brisk breezes ; 

 favourable weather. 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



The vessel ventilated. 

 Ice-islands. 



far south as could be distinguished, interspersed 

 with much drift and floe-ice. On the southern 

 horizon sixty-four ice-islands were counted, exclu- 

 sive of many near them, and those that were not 

 distinguishable from the barrier. 



The current was tried here, and found setting 

 south-east, nearly a mile an hour. Pigeons 

 around in numbers, also whales and large flocks 

 of -[penguins. 



The nights now evidently lengthened, thus 

 adding to the cares and anxieties attendant on 

 this navigation. It was fortunate that the pre- 

 vailing winds were from the south-east and south- 

 west, or coming off the ice. If they had blown 

 from the northward, they would have been at- 

 tended with danger, and might have proved fatal 

 to the vessel. 



2nd. At meridian, in longitude 130 36' E., and 

 latitude 65 24' S. They were prevented from 

 proceeding further to the southward by the im- 

 penetrable icy barrier. At this time they had one 

 hundred large ice-islands in sight, without count- 

 ing any of the smaller bergs, which were innumer- 

 able ; saw great numbers of penguins and some 

 seals (phoca proboscida). The current was tried 

 here, and found setting as yesterday, and at the 

 same rate. 



At 8 P.M. were obliged to retrace their steps to 

 the northward, the weather becoming thick, with 

 light snow. At eleven, constant and thick snow- 

 storm, and unable to see any distance ; the gale 

 continuing, lay-to under a close-reefed main- 



3rd. A gale from south-east, heavy sea rising ; 

 occasionally passing ice-islands and field-ice. The 

 gale continued throughout the day, but moderated 

 towards midnight; the sea was heavy, the weather 

 thick, and the brig completely covered with ice and 

 snow. The barometer fell to 28'040 in. Tempera- 

 ture of the air 32. 



4th. Although the wind was moderate, yet it 

 was so thick and foggy as to preclude bearing 

 up. Towards meridian it cleared sufficiently for 

 them to bear up and continue their examinations. 

 To-day the current was found west-north-west, 

 three-quarters of a mile per hour. 



On the 5th they had a beautiful day, no cli- 

 mate or region, Lieutenant-Commandant Ring- 

 gold remarks, could have produced a finer : this 

 gave them an opportunity of thoroughly drying 

 every thing and ventilating the vessel, which was 

 much required ; standing to the northward, in 

 order to make a long board to the westward ; 

 the longitude 127 8' E., latitude 63 22' S. ; few 

 ice-islands in sight, and those appeared much 

 worn, showing marks of rapid decay, with isolated 

 pieces, some standing erect, while others were 

 inclined, resembling fragments of columns and 

 broken arches. This night there was a brilliant 

 display of the aurora australis : at eleven o'clock 

 there was 'perceived in the northern horizon a 

 luminous arched cloud, at 15 of altitude, extend- 

 ing from north-west to north-east ; the stars were 

 partially obscured in the direction of the clouds; 

 the pale flashes or coruscations vanishing very 

 suddenly, were succeeded by spiral columns or 

 streamers, converging with great velocity towards 

 the zenith ; brilliant flashes would again issue 

 forth from the remote parts of the cloud, suc- 

 ceeded in quick succession by perpendicular rays 



emanating from the cloud, having the shape of 

 a rounded column or basaltic-shaped cylinder, 

 which in contrast with the dark cloud showed in 

 broad relief. As the cloud seemed to rise, the 

 scene became a most interesting one, from the 

 varied and oft-changing coruscations ; finally the 

 arc assumed a contracted and elliptical form, vivid 

 streamers bursting forth as if from a corona, con- 

 verging all towards the zenith, until they were 

 lost in the coming day. The magnetic needle did 

 not show any disturbance. The barometer stood 

 stationary during its continuance. The sympie- 

 someter indicated a slight fall. At the time there 

 was no wind ; the stars were brilliant, and all 

 visible. 



6th. During this day they had light winds; pur- 

 sued their course to the westward; wind from the 

 southward. In the afternoon they had light flur- 

 ries of snow, and at times hail; the sea perfectly 

 smooth, and few icebergs in sight. Longitude 

 125 32' E., latitude 63 34' S. 



During the 7th, the winds variable ; at eight 

 tacked to the southward, in order to close in with 

 the barrier ; the wind again hauling, tacked ; the 

 number of icebergs increasing ; all those seen for 

 the few days past have appeared variously shaped, 

 much worn and fractured, some evidently over- 

 turned, and immense arches or caves washed in 

 them j they were totally distinct from those seen 

 to-day. 



8th. A brisk breeze from the southward, which 

 cai-ried them on rapidly to the westward. At 

 meridian, discovered compact fields of ice, with 

 many stupendous ice-islands enclosed within it; the 

 ice appeared more broken than any hitherto seen, 

 with many fragments of icebergs resembling spires 

 and broken columns. Altered their course to clear 

 the barrier, and by two o'clock they had extricated 

 themselves. Penguins, whales, brown pigeons, and 

 the black albatross, were seen near the barrier. In 

 the afternoon the snow fell in beautiful shining 

 spiculse, resembling stars, usually of six, but some- 

 times of twelve points : they varied from one-eighth 

 to one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. 



The barrier was occasionally seen, and the ice- 

 islands began again to assume a tabular form ; 

 towards the close of the day, very many whales, 

 penguins, &c., seen. Longitude 116 E., latitude 

 64 I' S. 



On the 9th, fresh breezes from the south-east; at 

 10 A.M. made the barrier again, the weather bc-ing 

 favourable ; at 4 P.M. standing along the barrier, 

 through drift-ice, with countless icebergs in sight ; 

 good observations were obtained, placing them in 

 longitude 112 41' E., and latitude 64 55' S. At 

 10 p. M., some few appearances of the aurora 

 australis in the northern sky, light coruscations 

 streaming upwards, but quite faint, and only for a 

 very short period ; many stars and several constel- 

 lations were traced without difficulty. The sea was 

 smooth ; lowered a boat to try the current, but 

 found none. The dip was 83 30'. 



On the morning of the 10th the weather cleared 

 off, and gave them an opportunity of ventilating 

 the vessel ; closed in with the field-ice for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining a supply of water, and the boats 

 were despatched to take in ice ; the longitude was 

 found to be 110 34' E., latitude 65 12' S.; the 

 field-ice here was found to be interspersed with 

 many large ice-islands and bergs. At five o'clock 



