370 



THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Heard Island x (see Sheet 22), discovered by Captain Heard of the American ship 

 "Oriental" in November 1853, is of considerable extent, being 25 miles in length, and 

 9 miles in width, occupying an area of 100 square miles. Its northwestern extremity 

 (Cape Laurens) is in hit. 53° 2' 45" S., long. 73° 15' 30" E., and its southeastern in 

 lat. 53° 14' S., long. 73° 52' E. 



The summit of the island was not seen from the Challenger, but is estimated as 

 being at least 6000 feet above the level of the sea ; the mountain is called " Big Ben " 

 by the sealers, and from it large glaciers descend, and in many places reach the sea ; 

 but, as the temperature of the surface water is above 32°, the waves dashing against 

 the edge of the glaciers wear away the base, and so form overhanging ledges of ice, 

 which break off by their own weight when forced sufficiently forward by the gradual 

 descent of the glaciers. Here and there low hills, separate from the main mountain 

 mass, offer an obstruction to the ice, and prevent its covering the land on their lower 



Flu. 125. — Glacier, Corinthian Bay, Heard Island, as seen fioni H.M.S Challenger, b'th February 187-1. 



sides ; such a hill blocks the glacier on the southeast side of a narrow low isthmus 

 5 miles from Cape Laurens. 



To the southeast of the ship as. she lay. in the small bay at anchor was seen the 

 succession of glaciers descending right down to the beach from this mountain, and 

 separated by lateral moraines from one another ; six of these glaciers w T ere visible from 

 the anchorage, forming by their terminations the coast line eastwards. They rose with a 

 gentle slope with the usual rounded undulating surface, upwards towards the interior 

 of the island, but their origin was hid in the mist and cloud. 



One of them, that nearest to the ship, instead of abutting on the sea shore directly 

 with its end as did the others, presented, towards its lower extremity, its side to the 



1 Nautical Magazine, vols, xxiii., xxiv., xxvii. ; Mercantile Magazine, vols, v., xii. ; 1'etermann's Mittlteilumjcii, 

 1858 ; Personal Observations by Members of the Expedition. 



