THE NARRATIVE OF CHARLES WILKES. 431 
prevailed, and we continued to pass numerous ice-islands. The Aurora 
Australis had this night a beautiful and novel appearance. Black clouds 
were passing rapidly over the sky; an orange glow of light seemed 
to cover the heavens, emanating from a point over which flitted 
rays of the prismatic colours directed towards the horizon, light- 
ing up both edges of the clouds and throwing them into bold relief. 
The rays seemed to dart simultaneously towards the horizon, on reach- 
ing which they would seem to be gathered, as if by magic, towards the 
centre and slowly vanish, to reappear again and fold up. I made a 
sketch of this appearance, which may in some measure convey an idea 
of it. 
Strong gales continued until the 27th, with thick misty weather. 
In the latitude of 53° S. and longitude 120 °25' E., we passed the last 
iceberg; the sea exhibited much phosphorescence; the temperature of 
the water was 46°. 
On the 28th we found our variation 1° easterly, in the longitude of 
131° 50’ E., latitude 50° 30'S.; and in attempting to get a deep-sea 
sounding of 850 fathoms we lost our Six’s thermometer, by the wire 
parting. The sea was a deep blue; the temperature 45°. We found a 
current setting west-north-west three-fourths of a knot per hour. The 
white object was seen at the depth of fifteen fathoms. 
On the ist of March we had reached the latitude of the Royal 
Company’s Isles, and I continued to run in nearly the same parallel for 
eight degrees of longitude, without seeing any signs of the supposed 
land. Having sailed far to the eastward of their supposed position, I 
again hauled to the northward to proceed to Hobart Town, Van 
Dieman’s Land, to fill up our water. We now saw a sail, the first 
during sixty days, which made us feel as if we were returning to a 
habitable part of the globe. This night we had a brilliant display of 
the Aurora Australis, resembling that seen on the 9th of February, with 
this difference, that it was seen to the southward, extending from east- 
south-east to west-south-west. 
On the 5th of March the wind headed us off our course to Hobart 
Town. I then determined to proceed direct to Sydney, and thus be enabled 
to communicate as speedily as possible with the United States. The con 
sideration of getting intelligence respecting the other vessels also led 
to this determination. I felt, in truth, forebodings that all was not 
well, from not having met any of the vessels at the appointed rendez- 
vous along the icy barrier; and I was anxious for their safety, after 
the severe gale of the 28th of January. 
Having reached a lower latitude, the weather had now become 
pleasant, and we could dispense with our winter clothing—a relief 
which the whole of the crew seemed to enjoy. It was the reverse with 
me; I had a feeling of exhaustion and lassitude that I could not account 
for, and the least exertion caused me much fatigue. 
