HISTORY OF DISCO VERY. 99 



from the barrier, as with a light wind the northerly swell 

 drifted the vessels gradually towards it. Before long, 

 snow showers set in, continuing through the following 

 day, and, as there seemed no prospect of progress towards 

 the south-east along the ice barrier, Ross was obliged to 

 steer north-east, so as to pass over as great an extent of 

 space as possible in the open sea with the steady wind. 

 On the 31st of January pack-ice was encountered, and the 

 ships entered it and penetrated it for a distance of twelve 

 or thirteen miles, but, as it grew closer and the wind 

 stronger, Ross again stood back to the westward for the 

 night in the open sea. On the following day the ice 

 was again penetrated to the southward, and on the 2nd of 

 February the ice was again in sight without any change 

 whatever in its appearance. A near approach was, how- 

 ever, quite impracticable owing to the heavy outlying 

 pack-ice. 



Since Ross was of opinion that some time must 

 still elapse before the ice seen to the north-west of 

 Mount Erebus and Mount Terror would break up and clear 

 away north, he determined, after consulting with Captain 

 Crozier, to trace the course of the great barrier for some 

 distance towards the east, and then to renew the attempt 

 to reach the magnetic pole by sea. On this day, the 2nd 

 of February, the vessels reached the southernmost point 

 attained during the southern summer of 1 840-1 in latitude 

 78° 4/ S., and about longitude 1 73 2 °' W. The ice barrier 

 was here about 125 feet high, and extended as far as 

 eye could see to the east and west ; the face of it was 

 probably in latitude 78° 15' S. The course east- 

 wards was, therefore, continued, and on the 5th of 

 February a W. longitude of nearly 167 was reached in 

 latitude JJ 18' S., but the ice was found so closely 

 packed that the vessels could make no way, and had 

 some difficulty in extricating themselves towards the 

 west. As soon as this was accomplished Ross steered 



