418 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL, 
to rise, the scene became a most interesting one, from the varied and 
oft-changing coruscations: finally, the arc assumed a contracted and 
elliptical form, vivid streamers bursting forth as if from a corona, con- 
verging all towards the zenith, until they were lost in the coming day. 
The magnetic needle did not show any disturbance. The barometer 
stood stationary during its continuance. The sympiesometer indicated 
a slight fall. At the time there was no wind; the stars were brilliant, 
and all visible. 
6th.—During this day they had light winds; pursued their course to 
the westward ; wind from the southward. In the afternoon they had 
light flurries of snow, and at times hail; the sea perfectly smooth, and 
few icebergs in sight. Longitude 125° 32’ E., latitude 63° 34’ 8. 
During the 7th the winds variable. At eight tacked to the south- 
ward in order to close in with the barrier; the wind again hauling, 
tacked; the number of icebergs increasing; all those seen for the few 
days past have appeared variously shaped, much worn and fractured, 
some evidently overturned, and immense arches or caves washed in 
them; they were totally distinct from those seen to-day. 
8th.—A brisk breeze from the southward, which carried them on 
rapidly to the westward. At meridian discovered compact fields of ice, 
with many stupendous ice-islands enclosed within it; the ice appeared 
more broken than any hitherto seen, with many fragments of icebergs 
resembling spires and broken columns. Altered their course to clear the 
barrier, and by two o’clock they had extricated themselves. Penguins, 
whales, brown pigeons, and the black albatross were seen near the 
barrier. In the afternoon the snow fell in beautiful shining spicule, 
resembling stars, usually of six, but sometimes of twelve points; they 
varied from one-eighth to one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. 
The barrier was occasionally seen, and the ice-islands began again 
to assume a tabular form; towards the close of the day very many 
whales, penguins, etc., seen. Longitude 116° E., latitude 64° 01'S. 
On the 9th, fresh breezes from the south-east. At 10 a.m. made the 
barrier again, the weather being favourable. At 4 p.m., standing along 
the barrier, through drift-ice, with countless icebergs in sight, good 
observations were obtained, placing them in longitude 112° 41' E., and 
latitude 64° 55'S. At 10 p.m. some few appearances of the Aurora 
Australis in the northern sky, light coruscations streaming upwards, but 
quite faint, and only for a very short period; many stars and several 
constellations were traced without difficulty. The sea was smooth; 
lowered a boat to try the current, but found none. The dip was 83° 30’. 
On the morning of the 10th the weather cleared off, and gave them 
an opportunity of ventilating the vessel; closed in with the field-ice for 
the purpose of obtaining a supply of water, and the boats were despatched 
to take in ice. The longitude was found to be 110° 34’ E., latitude 
65° 12'S. The field-ice here was found to be interspersed with many 
