FOREWORD XIX 



myriads of penguins and a herd of pigs rendered inedible by their 

 diet of penguin flesh. 



Prince Edward Island, Crozet and Kerguelen in the far southern 

 Indian Ocean, and known only to a few inarticulate whaling 

 skippers, were explored, every detail of their natural history being 

 recorded. From Kerauelen the ship sailed southward and crossed 

 the Antarctic Circle in February 1874, the first steam vessel to 

 do so, and here spent some weeks among storms and icebergs and 

 low visibility. Many anxious days were spent in endeavouring to 

 trawl among the forest of icebergs and more anxious nights en- 

 deavouring to keep clear of these rugged rocks of ice; on one 

 occasion the ship collided with a berg at night, losing her jib 

 boom but suffering no more severe damage. 'All hands on deck!' 

 was a frequent cry on those cold nights as disaster loomed up 

 ahead through the falling snow. 



The expedition visited many islands in the south-west Pacific, 

 recording the way of life and the material culture of the native 

 population, both of which were changing rapidly at that time as 

 the full impact of the western world was being felt with the 

 ever-growing influence of the missionary and the trader. The 

 anthropological records made by scientists and officers of 

 the Challenger in these areas may one day prove to be among the 

 most important they made, for they photographed, sketched and 

 collected material among the natives of Tonga, Fiji, New Heb- 

 rides, Cape York, New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. 

 Moseley in particular noticed how the old life was fading away 

 and realised how vital it was to record every vanishing facet. 



The efficient colonial rule of the Dutch was seen in the 

 Moluccas, the crumbling rule of the Spaniards was observed in 

 the Philippines. Members of the expedition were granted an 

 interview with the Emperor of Japan ; King Kalakano of Hawaii 

 was entertained, he at that time steering a wavering course 

 between British and American supporters; Queen Pomare of 

 Tahiti, much under the thumb of the French, attended a ball 

 onboard the ship. And here at Papeete the Challengers had a 

 wonderful time ashore where then, as today, the welcome for 

 the seafarer was overwhelming. The Tahitians are among the 

 friendliest and most lovable people on this earth. 



Early in i 876 Challenger passed through the Straits of Magellan, 



