THE NARRATIVE OF CHARLES WILKES. 395 
The answers to this letter will be seen in Appendix XXVIL; and 
it is sufficient here to say that a majority concurred in opinion with the 
report of the medical officers. Notwithstanding these opinions, I was 
not satisfied that there was sufficient cause to change my original deter- 
mination of passing along to the appointed rendezvous, and after full 
consideration of the matter I came to the conclusion, at whatever hazard 
to ship and crew, that it was my duty to proceed, and not give up 
the cruise until the ship should be totally disabled, or it should be 
evident to all that it was impossible to persist any longer. In bringing 
myself to this decision, I believe that I viewed the case on all sides 
with fairness, and allowed my duty to my country, my care for those 
whom it had committed to my charge, and my responsibility to the 
world, each to have its due weight. 
The weather now moderated, and I ordered sail to be made. The 
2nd of February found us about sixty miles to the westward of Piner’s 
Bay, steering to the southward, and as usual, among ice-islands, with 
the land in sight. The land had the same lofty appearance as before. 
We stood in until 3 p.m., when we were within two and a-half miles of 
the icy cliffs by which the land was bounded on all sides. These were 
from 150 to 200 feet in height, quite perpendicular, and there was no 
appearance whatever of rocks; all was covered with ice and snow. A 
short distance from us to the westward was a long range of icebergs 
aground, which, contrary to the usual appearance, looked much weather- 
beaten. We tried for soundings, but did not get any with 150 fathoms, 
although the water was much discoloured. The badness of the deep- 
sea line was a great annoyance to us, for deeper soundings would probably 
have obtained bottom. No break in the icy barrier, where a foot could 
be set on the rocks, was observable from aloft. The land still trended 
to the westward as far as the eye could reach, and continued to exhibit 
the same character as before. Our longitude now was 137° 02' E., lati- 
tude 66° 12'S. ; we found the magnetic declination westerly. 
This proved a fine day, so that we had an opportunity of airing the 
men’s bedding, of ventilating the ship, and of getting rid of the ice 
with which we were much encumbered. The thermometer varied from 
33° to 36°. Our sick-list had increased the last few days to twenty ; 
many of the men were affected with boils, which rendered them com- 
paratively useless; and ulcers, which were caused by the least scratch, 
were exceedingly prevalent; but their food was good, they had plenty 
of it, and their spirits were excellent. The high land was seen this 
afternoon, but the barrier along which we were passing prevented any 
nearer approach. This evening it was perceptible that the days were 
becoming shorter, which was a new source of anxiety, for we were often 
surrounded by numerous ice-islands, which the darkness rendered more 
dangerous. 
Towards evening the weather became unsettled, and the 3rd of 
