308 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
longitude by chronometer, 23° 58’ W. Cutter in company, standing to 
the 8.W. with all possible sail. Wind W.N.W. Some thick snows and 
sleet during the day. Thermometer, air 32°, water 33°. 
Dec. 19.—a.m. Many small birds about the vessel, viz. stormy and 
blue petrels ; observed a white gull with its leg broken. Saw also many 
penguins, some whale and blackfish. Wind strong from the westward, 
and hazy, so that I could get no observations. Latitude by account 
at noon, 58° 20’ S.; longitude from last observation of chronometer, 
25° 11' 45" W; about 8 p.m. saw something on the W.S.W. which had 
the appearance of land. 
Dec. 20.—During the whole of last night and this morning the 
weather has been so thick we could scarcely see two cables’ length from 
the vessel. Water rather smooth; wind W.N.W., with snow squalls, 
many penguins and small birds about the vessel. 
Dec. 21.—a.m. Heavy squalls with thick snow from the north-west- 
ward. Shortened and made sail as the weather required, endeavouring 
to get to the westward, and at 11.30 a.m. saw laud bearing from 8. and 
W. to W.S.W.; wore round to the northward on account of the heavy 
squalls from the N.W., which brought on thick weather. At noon the 
latitude by observation (this being the first for some days) was 58° 21'S.; 
by account, 58° 17'8.; longitude by chronometer, 26° 45’ W.; by dead 
reckoning, 27° 12’. The land on the opposite side to Cape Montagu, 
bearing about 8.W., which has a most terrific appearance, being nothing 
more than a complete rock of about six or seven miles in length on the 
east side, and covered with ice and snow, so much so that it was hardly 
possible to distinguish the rock, the snow and the clouds above these, 
one from the other, and there being no appearance of a landing place 
after standing in within five or six miles, it was the opinion of most on 
board that nothing of consequence could be got, which agreeing with 
my own ideas on the subject I hauled off to the southward, in hopes to 
find a better chance elsewhere. The rock, which is quite perpendicular 
all round to appearance, is laid down at least fifty miles too far east. 
Many drift pieces of ice about us. Sawa large shoal of blackfish this 
afternoon, but did not wish to waste time in sending after them. 
Several icebergs in sight, one of large size appeared to have drifted from 
the southward, and remained stationary on the southern end of the rock 
or island we had just left, which by my calculation lies in latitude 58° 
25' §., longitude (center) 26° 35' W. p.m, observed the appearance of 
land in the 8.W. 
Dec. 22.—a.m. Hauled to the wind on the larboard tack until 
daylight, weather being hazy. Wind from west to south. Towards 
noon it blew a strong breeze from the southward, with clear cold 
weather. Saw an island to the south-west exactly similar to the first, 
which bore now W. by N. about twenty-five miles, and not being able 
tu fetch the southernmost, bore away for the other at 4 p.m., being about 
