HISTORY OF DISCOVERY. 



11 



•of bergs increased, and the more tedious the passage 

 through the channels between them became, where the 

 echoes multiplied and repeated the officers' words of 

 command. At length, after several hours, the ships reached 

 open water on the coast, only a few nautical miles from the 

 newly-discovered land. This extended south-west and 

 north-east to the horizon, completely covered with snow, 

 and rose gradually to the south in elevations of from 3,000 

 to 3,600 feet. On the further passage along the coast to the 

 west a chain of small rocky islets was discovered, and on one 



The Astrolabe and La Zelee on the coast of Adelie Land on 20th January, 1840 

 (after Dumont d'Urville). 



of these a landing was effected, and possession of the newly- 

 discovered land was taken for France by the unfurling of 

 the tricolour. From here it was possible to see that here 

 and there single rocky summits stood out beyond the 

 frozen covering of the land, and it was also possible to 

 collect a few specimens of rock and stone, and from 

 these to draw conclusions concerning the petrographical 

 character of the country. Now, at length, when abso- 

 lutely no doubt remained as to the actual terra fir ma of 



