THE LOG OF JOHN BALLENY’S SECOND MATE, 351 
Thursday, Feb. 7.—Light winds, with smooth water and a thick fog. 
At 8 am., tried the current, and found it setting W. by 8. by comp., 
half a mile an hour. Birds very scarce, penguins and whales about in 
plenty. Latitude by account, 67° 7’ S.; longitude by account, 166° 43’ E. 
At noon, thick fog, with smooth water and small rain. Lowered the 
mainsail down and repaired it. At 6 p.m., heavy swell from N.W. 
Midnight, ditto weather. 
Friday, Feb. 8.—Thick fog. Passing much ice. Several penguins 
in sight and one sea leopard. At 8, set squaresail. At noon, took in 
the squaresail; thick fog; much ice. No observations. Latitude by 
account, 66° 44’ 8. ; longitude by account, 166° 44’ HE. At 8 p.m., reefed 
the mainsail. At 9, took in the foresail. At 10, hove to; thick fog. 
Saturday, Feb. 9.—Thick fog, with much ice. Lying to. At 4am, 
saw a young seal close alongside. The water very much discoloured, and 
whales in shoals. At 8, longitude by chronometer, 166° 3’ E. At 11.30, 
saw what we took to be land on our lee bow. Spoke the cutter. Set the 
squaresail and steered for it. Latitude by observation, 66° 37'S. At 
4p.m., saw the land distinctly bearing about S.W. Two large islands 
and several smaller ones. At 6, saw a third one to the westward. At 8, 
hove to. Fair weather and clear, with smooth water. Whales and 
penguins in plenty. Saw two seals alongside. 
Sunday, Feb. 10.—At 2 a.m., steered for the land. At 4, about half 
a mile distant from the middle island of the three. Saw no appearance 
of any harbour or beach, it being completely icebound. Tacked and 
stood off to the N.E. Thick fog, with heavy rain. No land in sight at 
10 a.m. At noon, ditto weather. No observations. Latitude by account, 
66° 24’ 8.; longitude by account, 164° 49’, Lond. Rate; 163° 11’ 15”, 
Chalky R. At 4 pm. tacked. At 8, calm, with thick fog. Saw 
some seals, whales and penguins. At midnight, ditto weather. 
Monday, Feb. 11.—At 1 a.m., got the boats out and towed till 3 to 
clear the ice. At 4, got the boats in; light airs from the N.E. At 6, 
calm. At 11, saw the land to the S.W. Tacked for it; distant about 
12 leagues. At noon, latitude by single altitude, 66° 25'S; by an im- 
perfect meridian altitude, 66° 30'S. Spoke the cutter. Afternoon closed 
in with light winds and thick fog. Whales and penguins in sight. 
Longitude by account, 164° 37’ E. Got the best bower-anchor up, and 
the cable bent. At 8 p.m., it fell calm, with fog. A heavy swell from 
the N.E. setting the vessel to the S.W., half a knot an hour. 
Tuesday, Feb. 12.—Set half a mile an hour to the S.W. by the N.E. 
swell. At 2a.m., weather cleared up; saw the land. At 3, light airs 
from the eastward. At 8, small island S.S.E., distant ten miles; west 
point of the west island bearing W.N.W. The land completely ice- 
bound. At noon, tacked and worked up; short tacks towards the land 
to see for harbours or beaches. Cutter in shore. At 4 p.m., small 
island abreast, quarter mile distant. Spoke the cutter, and saw another 
