HISTORY OF DISCOVERY. 73 



investigate the South Shetland Isles, the highest point 

 of which came in sight on the north-east, he steered on 

 to the S.S.W., the quantity of ice increasing, and the 

 icebergs growing more numerous. On the 27th of 

 February several small rocky cliffs were seen rising amid 

 the ice, to the great surprise of all. This again occurred 

 a few hours later further west, latitude 62 57' S., in the 

 part therefore where, on the chart of the Englishman 

 Laurie, Hope Island had been laid down. The further 

 the ships pressed forward, the more land now became 

 visible ; it was, however, soon after obscured by mist. 

 As the weather again cleared, it was possible to get 

 a general view of the land, the existence of which 

 was certainly known previous to D'Urville, and the general 

 outlines of which had been laid down on the charts. 

 Nothing of the particulars of the older charts could, how- 

 ever, be recognised, although the situation, in part at 

 least, corresponded to the earlier indications on them, 

 so D'Urville felt himself justified in regarding the land 

 before him as his own discovery. Towards the east it 

 appeared as a connected, low-lying, and uniform whole ; 

 on the west it had the appearance of three islands. The 

 voyage was continued westward next day in sight of land, 

 the clear weather making a more accurate survey pos- 

 sible. It appeared completely covered with ice and 

 snow, and elevated ; in the south several high summits 

 were observed, of which one received the name of Mount 

 Jacquinot. Another, situated rather more to the south- 

 west and about 3000 feet in height, was called Mount 

 D'Urville ; and a third, to the north-east of both, Mount 

 Bransfield. All these heights lie on a mass of land called 

 Louis-Philippe Land, to the east of which, separated by 

 a strait, Joinville Land is situated. 



On the 2nd of March it was possible to approach 

 much nearer to the land under Mount D'Urville by enter- 

 ing a bay that cuts into the land in a semicircle. Towards 



