316 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL, 
eaglets, and now and then a nelly, together with my having observed 
at different times birds flying to the 8.W., which, although at a great 
distance appearing to be belonging to land, the water too of a light 
colour, I was in hopes of being near some considerable quantity of it, 
and on the weather becoming clear to the southward, saw much the 
appearance of land in that direction, and on going to the mast-head with 
a glass, I was confirmed in my opinion ; but after standing some few 
miles south, the wind being E.S.E., the land vanished in a cloud, and in 
a short time after we were stupped by field-ice. Yesterday and to-day 
we have passed some of the largest icebergs I have yet seen, not being 
less than three miles in circumference, with the top surface smooth us a 
sheet of glass, while others are completely ragged; but I think that 
formerly they have formed one immense field. Saw an appearance of a 
high mountain, N.E., stood in that direction, wind E.S.E., but, as yester- 
day, it turned out a cloud. 
Feb. 3.—The wind has been light so many days from the eastward 
that we have been able to make little or no progress. As to the south- 
ward, it is completely blocked up with fields of broken ice. Towards 
noon on the 8rd the wind gradually came round to the westward, our 
latitude 68° 30', longitude 14° 42’ 15”, lunar 15° 20' 80”, variation, by 
means of several sets of amplitudes and azimuths, 23° 12’ W., temperature, 
air at noon 33°, sun 60°, midnight 30°, water 34°. p.m. The breeze 
freshening from the westward, we steered 5. by E., 6 knots an hour, until 
11 p.m., when we entered much broken ice, and at midnight could dis- 
tinctly see it running out as far as N.E. by E.; wore round to clear it. It 
now blowing a fresh gale, and the sea getting up very suddenly, we had 
much difficulty in getting clear to the northward, having struck against 
several pieces, though without any other damage than carrying away the 
martingale. 
Feb. 4.:—At 10 a.m., being clear of the ice, and the sea too high to 
venture again to the southward at present, we steered E.8.E., cutter in 
company, until 3 a.m. of the 5th, when we hauled up §.S.E. and 8. by E, 
it being moderate and clear, but at noon again made the field-ice, hauled 
out, steering various courses. Passed either a large seal or an elephant, 
but it was too far off, and did not stay a sufficient time above the water 
to distinguish it properly. Many snow birds and brown eaglets about 
us, with some fin and hump-backed whale. Everyone expecting to 
see land, we saw or thought we saw many appearances of it. P.M. By 
several sets of azimuths and amplitudes, the variation was 29° 10' W. 
The wind gradually died away, and at midnight was quite calm, and the 
water in a freezing state all round the vessel. I took up a considerable 
quantity of ice from the surface, about one-quarter of an inch thick, 
and melted it into two bottles. The temperature of the air at this 
time was 24°, surface of the water 30°, at a depth of 250 fathoms 33°; 
as we had made little way since noon, our latitude was about 68° 50’ S., 
