304 
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
designated the new regions as the Ant- 
arctic Continent. 
The Wilkes expedition for maritime 
exploration was authorized by an act of 
Congress approved May i8, 1836. As 
organized, it consisted of five unsuitable 
and inadequately equipped ships, of 
which the largest was the flagship Vin- 
cenncs and the smallest the Flying Fish, 
96 tons. The command was refused by 
several officers, but late in 1838 the 
squadron sailed under Lieut. Charles 
Wilkes, U. S. Navy. Scientific work 
was strictly subordinated to surveys and 
explorations, it being a commercial en- 
terprise. 
The official instructions of the Secre- 
tary of Navy, Paulding, August 11, 
1838, ran in part as follows : 
"You will proceed to explore the 
southern Antarctic to the southward of 
Powell's group, and between it and 
Sandwich Land, endeavoring to reach a 
high southern latitude, making such 
examination and surveys of the bays, 
ports, inlets, and sounds in that region 
(Tierra del Euego) as may be service- 
able in future to vessels engaged in the 
whale fisheries. 
"From Sydney (at the end of 1839) 
you will make a second attempt to pene- 
trate within the Antarctic region, south 
of Van Dieman's Land, and as far west 
as longitude 45° E., or to Enderby Land. 
The Congress of the United States, hav- 
ing in view the important interests of 
our commerce embarked in the whale 
fisheries and other adventures in the 
great Southern Ocean, by an act of the 
1 8th of May, 1836, authorized an expe- 
dition to be fitted out for the purpose of 
•exploring and surveying that sea. 
"Although the primary object of the 
•expedition is the promotion of the great 
interests of commerce and navigation, 
y^et you will take all occasions not in- 
■compatible with the great purposes of 
your undertaking to extend the bounds 
of science and promote the acquisition 
of knowledge. 
"You will prohibit all under your com- 
mand from furnishing any person not be- 
longing to the expedition with informa- 
tion which has reference to the objects 
or proceedings of the expedition." 
While no mention was made of Palm- 
er's discoveries, tney were well known 
to Wilkes, who made Orange Harbor, 
Tierra del Fuego, his base of operations. 
With the Porpoise and Sea Gull he ex- 
plored to the east. Leaving South Shet- 
lands to the north on March 3, 1839, 
Wilkes reports : "Filled away at day- 
light, and stood for Palmer Land. . . . 
At 6:30 we made land, which I took to 
be Mount Hope, the eastern point of 
Palmer Land. . . . Near to us we 
discovered three small islets, and gave 
them the name of Adventure Islets, while 
beyond and above all rose two high 
mountains, one of which was Mt. Hope." 
Violent gales and thick ice obliged a 
speedy return. 
Meanwhile Captain Hudson, in the 
Peacock, and Lieutenant Walker, in the 
Flyisli Fish, struggled southwestward 
from February 25 to March 25. with 
gales and fogs. Appearances of land 
(unconfirmed) were noted from about 
70° 20' S., 100° W. 
The next Antarctic cruise was made 
from Sydney, Australia, the designated 
base. Wilkes sailed December 26, 1839, 
with the flagship Vincennes, the Peacock, 
the Porpoise, and the tiny pilot-boat Fly- 
ing Fish. 
This memoir does not concern the 
dangers and privations incident to this 
astonishing Antarctic cruise, from which 
one ship returned almost as by miracle. 
Nevertheless, unfitness of ships, insuffi- 
ciency of clothing, inappropriate food, 
inclemency of weather, extraordinary 
ice conditions, and difficulties of navi- 
gating sailing ships in the ice form a 
background against which stand out 
brilliantly the indomitable character of 
the commander, the courage, seaman- 
ship, and resourcefulness of the officers 
and men. Attention is here given only 
to discoveries. 
This account is drawn from Wilkes' 
narrative, and quotations are from the 
reports of proceedings by the ships 
named. 
January 16, 1840. "Appearances be- 
lieved to be land were visible from all 
three vessels."* 
*The Plying Fish was absent. The land 
signs are surmised to have been the loom of 
the Balleny Islands, discovered the previous 
January, but unknown to Wilkes. 
