NEW CALEDONIA AND THE RETURN 175 



or else a part of the continent. For I firmly be- 

 lieve that there is a track of land near the pole 

 which is the source of most of the ice that is 

 spread over this vast Southern Ocean. I also 

 think it probable that it extends farthest to the 

 North opposite the Southern and Indian Oceans; 

 because ice was always found by us farther to 

 the North in these oceans than anywhere else, 

 which I judge could not be, if there were not 

 land to the South; I mean a land of considerable 

 extent. ... It is true, however, that the great- 

 est part of this southern continent (supposing 

 there is one) must lie within the polar circle, 

 where the sea is so pestered with ice that the 

 land is thereby inaccessible. The risque one 

 runs in exploring a coast, in these unknown and 

 icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold 

 enough to say that no man will ever venture far- 

 ther than I have done; and that the lands which 

 may lie to the South will never be explored. 

 Thick fog, snow storms, intense cold, and every 

 other thing that can render navigation danger- 

 ous, must be encountered; and these difficulties 

 are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly hor- 

 rid aspect of the country; a country doomed by 

 Nature never once to feel the warmth of the 

 sun's rays, but to lie buried in everlasting snow 

 and ice. . . . After such an explanation as this, 

 the reader must not expect to find me much far- 



