6 Recent Antarctic Exploration 



within about fifteen miles of the supposed position of Wilkes' Termi- 

 nation Land ; but neither from the deck nor mast-head could any indica- 

 tion of it be seen. The limit of vision as logged was twelve miles ; and, 

 had there been land sufficiently lofty for Wilkes to have seen it at a 

 distance of sixty miles (which was the distance that he supposed himself 

 off it), either the clouds capping it or the land itself must have been seen. 

 If Wilkes' distance was over-estimated, then that of the 'Challenger' would 

 be increased, and it may still be found ; but, as the expression in Wilkes' 

 journal is, 'appearance of land was seen to the south-west, and its 

 trending seemed to be to the northward,' and not that land was actually 

 sighted and a bearing obtained, it is probable that Termination Land 

 does not exist. Still it is curious that pack-ice and a large number of 

 bergs should have been found in nearly the same position as by Wilkes 

 in 1840 ; and this would seem to indicate that land cannot be very far 

 distant." 



This expectation was realised by the " Gauss." Having 

 failed to find Termination Land in its reputed position, she 

 steered west and then south through pack-ice carrying 

 soundings of 1500 to 2000 fathoms. On the morning of 

 Feb. 19 shelter from the wind and snow was sought under 

 the lee of a large iceberg; and here a sounding was taken 

 when a depth of only 130 fathoms was found. The re- 

 mainder of the day was spent in the endeavour to drive the 

 ship southward through the pack-ice and against the wind. 

 Towards evening a swell from the southward was met which 

 gave hopes of open water ; and these were fulfilled. The ice 

 rapidly opened out, and Feb. 20 was spent cruising in a sea 

 free from ice. The depth of the water had increased to 

 350 fathoms. The south-easterly wind, which blew with 

 great violence, prevented much way being made. On the 

 morning of the 2ist the weather had improved and land 

 was sighted. The photographs show a perfectly open sea 

 with the land uniformly covered with ice. No bare land of 

 any kind was visible. Everywhere the inland ice ended in a 

 cliff which rose some 1 50 feet above the sea. 



The reader will find it difficult to understand why Dry- 

 galski, when he had discovered new land with open sea in 

 front of it, did not devote himself to exploring it in preference 

 to any other work. It was legitimate geographical work 

 which would have afforded an opportunity for himself and 



