HISTORY OF DISCOVERY. .31 



that time that Bouvet was of opinion that the height of 

 the icebergs, the origin of which so long remained 

 enigmatical, was a proof of the altitude of the country " in 

 which they came into existence, and highlands are always 

 considered the healthiest ". 



On penetrating farther towards the south, the ships 

 were however so closely hemmed in by pack-ice and 

 floating ice that they were obliged to seek an outlet to 

 the east. After sailing in this direction and to the south- 

 east for several days, an apparently high and snow- 

 covered land was seen by both ships to the north-east 

 on i st January, 1739. According to Bouvet's reckoning 

 they were then in latitude 54° 20' S. and longitude 4° 

 E., and the land seemed to be in about latitude 54 S. 

 and longitude 4 20' E. Following the devout custom 

 of naming new discoveries according to the church 

 calendar, it was called Cape cie la Circoncision. The 

 extent of land was certainly small, and the coast inac- 

 cessible on account of the pack-ice by which it was 

 blockaded. Even after a delay of twelve days, the ships 

 were unable to approach it near enough to effect a 

 landing. On one clear day it was seen that the country 

 was much more level to the south-east, and that in parts 

 free from snow it was covered with forest or underwood. 

 This delusive appearance — as in the Falkland Isles — 

 is caused by the tussock grass, Poa fiabellata, which 

 gives an impression in the distance of being shrubs and 

 bushes. In spite of the country appearing well-wooded, 

 Bouvet did not consider it suitable for settlers, and it 

 did not occur to him that it was only a small island. On 

 the contrary, he was convinced that he had discovered 

 a promontory of the great southern land, and retained 

 the hope of finding Gonneville's coast farther away to 

 the east. Therefore he sailed 1500 miles to the east, in 

 a latitude of 57 S. approximately, constantly surrounded 

 by ice, and without finding anything, and then took an 



