



Voyage of Capt. Sir James C. Ross to the Antarctic. 21 

 all parts of the heavens, some of the more intelligent and careful 



of the seamen were instructed for the duty, report being made 



every half hour to the officer of the watch. " One of the more 

 zealous of these observers, who had not been so fortunate as to 

 see any ' falling stars' during his first half hour, did not wish to 

 leave his post when relieved, 'as he was sure two or three stars 

 would fall in a few minutes ; he had been watching them and 

 could see they were shaking !' " 



At noon, lat. 33° 40' S., long. 64° 18' E., temperature of the 

 sea at 300 fathoms, 49°-7— at 150 fathoms 55°-8— at the sur- 

 face 59°. The specific gravity was 1-0274 at 60°. 



Aug. 9. — "A bright meteor burst in the S. IF., at the altitude 

 of 20°, exhibiting a shower of beautifully variegated stars." On 

 board the Terror it was observed to emerge from a dark cloud, 

 near the Southern Cross, and in its descent it shewed fine bright 

 lights. Fifteen falling stars were seen between 10 and 11 p.m. 



Aug. 10. — There were no soundings at 820 fathoms ; some 

 new self-registering thermometers were tried, constructed to bear 

 a greater pressure than any that had hitherto been encountered. 

 It was ascertained that the mean temperature of the sea is here 

 attained only below 800 fathoms. 



Aug. 11. — There were soundings in 400 fat horns; the bottom 

 was sand and small stones, and the dredge brought up beautiful 

 corals, corallines, flustra? and Crustacea. They were at this time 

 about 300 miles N. of New Zealand. 



The temperature of the sea-water at various depths was care- 

 fully observed in numerous instances. u In low latitudes, the sur- 

 face water is hotter than that below ; generally, the temperature 

 sinks as the water shoals, or even in -passing over banks whose 

 depth was very considerable ; the approach to land or shoal water 

 is indicated by the thermometer, in many places with a high de- 

 gree of sensibility. 5 ' 



New Zealand. — The first land that appeared in sight in New 

 Zealand was " the high bold cape Maria Van Uiemen, of roman- 

 tic association." "It was so designated by Tasman nearly two 

 hundred years ago, after a young lady of that name to whom he 

 was attached and whom he afterwards married : she was the 

 daughter or near relative of Anthony Van Diemen, the governor 

 of the Dutch possessions in India, a great friend of Tasman, and 

 by whom the expedition he commanded was sent forth." Tas- 

 man was therefore the discoverer of the north island of New Zea- 

 land, as well as of Van Die mens Land. The name of Tasmania 

 now imposed on the latter island, is only a just tribute to the 

 memory of the great navigator, and it has much the advantage 

 *n point of euphony. 



August 17th, they arrived at the Bay of Islands. A place for 

 observations was established at Paihia, the station of the Eng- 



