Miscellanies. 397 



grcss south was arrested by a solid barrier or field of ice. After an un- 

 successful examination for twenty-four hours in all directions, we con- 

 tinued to the westward along the barrier, as usual, surrounded by ice 

 islands. 



On the Sth and 10th (being on the 8th in longitude 127° 7' east, lati- 

 tude 65° 3' south,) we had similar appearances of distant mountains, but 

 the compact barrier extending from east to west by south, prevented a 

 nearer approach. 



On the night of the 9th February, being the first clear night for some 

 time, we witnessed the aurora australis. 



We continued on the 10th and 11th westward, with southeast winds, 

 and fine weather, close along the barrier, which was more compact, with 

 immeUvSe islands of ice enclosed within the field ice. 



On the r2th we again saw the distant mountains, but were unable to 

 effect a nearer approach, being in long. 112° 16' E., lat. 64° 57' S., and 

 I was again compelled to go on to the westward. 



The ice barrier trending more to the southward, induced me to hope 

 that we should again succeed in approaching nearer the supposed line of 

 coast. On the 18th, at noon, we had reached long. 107° 5', lat. 65° 11' 

 S., with tolerably clear sea before us, and the land plainly in sight. I 

 continued pushing through the ice until we were stopped by the fixed 

 barrier about fifteen miles from the shore, and with little or no prospect 

 of effecting a landing. 



I hauled off for the short night, and the next morning made another at- 

 tempt at a different point, but was equally unsuccessful, being able to ap- 

 proach only three or four miles nearer, as it appeared perfectly impenetra- 

 ble. Near us were several icebergs, colored and stained with earth, on 

 one of which we landed, and obtained numerous specimens of sandstone, 

 quartz conglomerate and sand, some weighing an hundred pounds. This, 

 I am well satisfied, gave us more specimens than could have been ob- 

 tained from the land itself, as we should no doubt have found it covered 

 ■with ice and snow one hundred or more feet in thickness. We obtained 

 a supply of fresh water from a pond in the centre of the same island. 

 Our position was long. 106° 40' E., lat. 65° 57' S., and upwards of sev- 

 enty miles of coast in sight, trending the same as that we had previously 

 seen. 



Although I had now reached the position where our examinations were 

 to terminate by my instructions to the squadron, I concluded to proceed 

 to the westward along the barrier, which continued to be much discolored 

 by earth, and specimens of rock, &i.c. were obtained from an ice island. 

 A sea leopard was seen on the ice, but the boats sent did not succeed in 

 taking him. 



On the 17th February, in long. 97° 30' E., lat. 64° S., land was again 

 seen at a great distance towards the southwest. We now found ourselves 



Vol. xL,No. 2— Jan.-March, 1841. 51 



