90 



THE ANTARCTIC. 



off. In the intervals of bright sunshine the land pre- 

 sented a wonderful appearance, the ice-girt heights stand- 

 ing out in sharp contrast high above the rolling clouds. 

 On the 20th and 21st of January the ships were in the 

 neighbourhood of Coulman Island, and land, with lofty 

 elevations, was again seen far to the south south-west. 

 The loftiest mountain, far exceeding all others in the 

 south polar regions in height, was named Mount Mel- 

 bourne. Its outlines bore a great resemblance to those 



Mount Minto and Mount Adam (after Ross). 



of Mount Etna, though its elevation exceeds that of 

 the Sicilian volcano. A further progress south caused 

 the land to the west to gradually disappear, for an ex- 

 tremely broad belt of ice made the approach along the 

 coast and the pack-ice most undesirable. Ross now- 

 steered due south, crossing the highest latitude attained 

 by Weddell on the 22nd of January, and on the 26th 

 land again came in sight. On the following day this 



