Chap. XI.] OCEAN CURRENTS. 125 



the Great Southern Ocean which lie just west of each 

 of these ice-bearing currents are found to be com- 

 paratively free from ice, as is shown by the useful 

 and interesting chart of the Antarctic Ocean recently 

 published by the Admiralty. The absence of ice- 

 bergs in the parts of the ocean just mentioned 

 ajjpears to indicate a southward motion of the water 

 preventing the ice from moving northwards in those 

 parts of the ocean. The currents, to and from the 

 Polar regions, which may be inferred from these 

 movements of the icebergs, are clearly in accordance, 

 both as regards their relative positions and directions, 

 with those described theoretically as resulting from 

 the action of vis-inerti^e, and shown in the charts on 

 Plates I., II., and XI. 



As the current which, according to the theoretical 

 action of vis-inertia3, runs westwards from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific has not been found to exist passing 

 north of Graham Land, it must, according to that 

 theory, pass through the unexplored regions lying 

 between Graham Land and the land (supposed to 

 be portions of an Antarctic Continent) discovered 

 in the voyages of exploration under Captain Wilkes 

 and Sir James Ross. The phenomena of the ice- 

 bergs above referred to clearly accord with that 

 which is theoretically indicated as the course of the 

 current in question. It keeps open a comparatively 

 clear seaway in its course southwards from the At- 

 lantic to the Antarctic regions, and, after sweepiug 



