NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 



403 



the deviation and variation of the compass, this being the first opportunity experienced 

 of doing so since leaving the Cape of Good Hope. Having completed swinging at 

 7 p.m. the vessel proceeded under easy steam to the eastward. At 10 p.m. a fine 

 aurora lit up the surrounding icebergs. During the afternoon serial temperatures were 

 obtained at every 10 fathoms to 50 fathoms, which showed a gradual decrease from 

 32° at the surface to 29°'3 at 40 fathoms. The barometer was steady at about 28'810 

 inches, temperature of the air 29° - 8, temperature of sea surface 32°"4 ; position at noon, 

 lat. 63° 30' S., long. 88° 57' E. 



On the 22nd, the weather continuing calm all the forenoon, and steam being up, 

 the ship was swung to ascertain the errors of the dipping needle, which took until 2 p.m., 

 when a westerly breeze having sprung up all sail was made towards Termination Land. 

 Numerous icebergs were in sight all day, thirty-two being counted at 4 P.M., but no pack 

 ice was seen. Several of the bergs passed had perpendicular fractures extending 



Fro. 153.— Iceberg seen 23rd February 1874. 



from the summit some way down their sides. The weather during the day was fine 

 with a light wind and smooth sea, cloudy in the forenoon, but bright and sunny in the 

 afternoon, the barometer rising slowly and steadily from 28*796 to 29"096 inches. 

 Mean temperature of air 31°"4, of sea surface 32 0, 8. On the 21st and 22nd there was 

 a heavy bank of clouds to the northward ; the view on the latter date was uninterrupted 

 from east round south to west, but was limited to about 8 or 9 miles in the northern 

 part of the horizon. The position at noon was lat. 63° 30' S., long. 91° 11' E. 



On the 23rd the ship hove to just after midnight until 2 a.m., the horizon ahead 

 being darkened by a heavy bank of clouds. At daylight the weather cleared, and the 

 day was remarkably fine with smooth water and a clear atmosphere. The wind falling 

 light at noon steam was got up and the vessel proceeded towards Termination Land, 



