THE JOURNAL OF JOHN BISCOE, 311 
Jan. 4.—Liyht airs from the westward. Many penguins about the vessel, 
and hump and fin-backed whales. No birds, with the exception of the 
spotted eaglet. Continual showers of snow. Latitude at noon 58° 18'5., 
longitude 23° 14’, 30" W. Variation per amplitude 1° 30' E., which is 
the first amplitude I have been able to obtain for a great length of time, 
and as the observation in general could not be depended upon, I have 
been unable to form any correct idea with respect to the currents, although 
Tam firmly of opinion that there is a current to the N.E., particularly as 
I observed one ice-island of large dimensions alter its position with 
one of the islands of Sandwich Land at least 10 miles within 24 hours, 
in the direction with the wind at W.N.W., which should have set it to 
the E.S.E., and although the vessel did not experience any current on the 
surface it must have been very strong underneath. On the morning of 
the 5th we again made field-ice. The water smooth and the wind being 
from the eastward, were obliged to tack; we again stood in, working 
along the edge of it, and found it quite firm. Latitude at noon, 59° 8’ S., 
longitude by means of chronometers 21° 30' W. p.u., the wind hauled 
more to the northward,*which enabled us to steer along the edge, en- 
deavouring to pass to the southward, and were always obliged to haul 
out again, every extremity being nothing more than the point of a bay. 
I observe by Captain Cook’s track to the eastward, that he passed along 
in about 58° 45'S., and I think it very probable he was prevented from 
getting to the southward by this ice. 
Jan. 6.—Light variable weather, but the wind generally from the 
southward. Firm field-ice to the southward, and considerable loose 
floating pieces about us. Passed many very large ice-islands, some of 
most extraordinary shape. 
Jan. 7—On the 7th the wind freshened from the 8.5.W., and brought 
clear weather. At 8 a.m. passed to the southward of a large patch of 
field-ice, which appeared to be connected together by several large 
icebergs. No field-ice in sight to the southward. No birds or penguins 
in sight. Latitude at noon, 59° 35’ S., longitude, chronometers, 19° 52’ 
W. Thermometer, 32° air, water 32°, I was now in great hopes I had 
got to the southward of the main body of the ice, but this delusion soon 
vanished ; for at 10.30 p.m. we again made field-ice ahead, being then 
on a wind, and heading 8S. by E. 4 E., and had now run upwards of 
40 miles §.8.E. since noon, and had seen nothing but icebergs. I 
immediately hove about, and after making two or three tacks the ice 
became very close, leaving us scarcely working room, but as the night 
was clear and the water smooth, I was still in hopes of working through 
this packed ice to the southward into clear water: but at 2 a.m. of the 
8th all my hopes were destroyed, for suddenly I found myself at the 
head of a bay of firm ice, with a view of it from the mast-head of at 
least 20 miles to the southward of east and west in every direction, 80 
much s0, that any person might have walked upon it without difficulty. 
