192 THE ANTARCTIC. 



south-east of the Pacific; they are scanty, unreliable points 

 on our charts, which, nevertheless, may at some future 

 time coalesce and form extensive coast lines as the result 

 of later and more favourable times for south polar ex- 

 ploration. 



The first of these islands is that discovered by Bell- 

 ingshausen, and named by him Peter I. Island. It has 

 been referred to in the history of discovery. It is situated 

 in latitude 68° 57' S. and longitude 90 46' W., and 

 appears to be quite isolated, as Bellingshausen saw no 

 land anywhere in its neighbourhood. The dimensions of 

 the island are, on obviously uncertain data, calculated by its 

 discoverer to be about eleven miles in length, five miles 

 in breadth and twenty-six miles in circumference ; the 

 mean height, calculated on the basis of three measure- 

 ments, appears to be 4,200 feet. Excepting several steep 

 slopes, the island was wholly covered with snow and ice. 

 The height and isolated position of the island seem to 

 favour the theory of volcanic origin, although there are 

 no indications whatever of volcanic activity. 



Somewhat farther west, in about latitude 70 S. and 

 longitude ioo°W., Walker believed in 1839 to have been 

 in sight of land for three hours ; this was during an interval 

 of clear weather in the midst of a snowstorm, as has 

 already been mentioned in the " History of Discovery". 

 As he gives no description of this sight of land, it is not 

 impossible that he was the victim of a delusion. How- 

 ever, he sighted, somewhat to the west and at no great 

 distance from this spot, heavy, compact masses of pack-ice, 

 such as occur in the Antarctic seas mostly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of land, and he also encountered such enormous 

 masses of icebergs that the neighbourhood of land may 

 be inferred, even if his sight of land was deceptive, he 

 having mistaken, as he himself considers possible, a 

 dSris-laden iceberg for land. But just this latter circum- 

 stance would more decisively speak in favour of the 



