HISTORY OF DISCOVERY. 12] 



Australia and subsequently in Europe. It is to be 

 regretted that his efforts and exertions were productive 

 of no result beyond establishing a complete unanimity 

 of opinion in the scientific world ; the means for carrying 

 out an expedition were not forthcoming in Germany ; 

 neither the State, nor scientific societies, nor private 

 endeavour, seconded Neumayer's unceasing activity. At 

 length, after nearly twenty years, the Challenger, com- 

 manded by Sir G. Nares, set out on a cruise south of 

 Kerguelen Island, as advocated by Neumayer, continuing 

 his course through the opening between Enderby Land, 

 Kemp Land and Wilkes Land. This course had always 

 been recommended by Neumayer as likely to be success- 

 ful, because no vessel had previously attained a latitude 

 much beyond 64° S., and it was known that between 

 meridians 6o° and 90° E. only a remarkably small number 

 of icebergs had been observed. This seemed to indicate 

 a warm current setting southwards, rendering a progress 

 towards the pole comparatively hopeful. It was pro- 

 bably in consequence of the impetus given by Neumayer 

 that the celebrated " Cruise of the Challenger " was 

 entered upon in the southern summer of 1873 and 1874, 

 destined to garner such full and such remarkable results 

 for our increased scientific knowledge of everything 

 connected with the geography of the Antarctic regions. 

 The expedition undertook an exhaustive scientific in- 

 vestigation of Kerguelen Island and of the Heard 

 group, and then sailed south in order to complete their 

 researches in deep-sea dredging in Antarctic waters. An 

 actual voyage of discovery had not been planned ; in- 

 deed, the Challenger herself had not been fortified for 

 ice navigation, or even for any long stay in the drift-ice. 

 On the 11th of February the vessel left Corinthian Bay 

 on the east of Heard Island, and on the same day, in 

 latitude 6o° 30' S. and longitude 78° 30' E., the first 

 iceberg was seen, though not followed by many others 



