442 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
in the E.8.E. a great black cloud which scemed stationary and had the 
appearance of a raised island. For a long time we followed it with 
our eyes, always thinking we saw some indication which would prove 
we had made a new discovery. But at 10 a.m. the sky, hitherto cloudy, 
suddenly cleared. The sun appeared in all its glory, and quickly dis- 
persed this deceptive apparition. Towards 3 p.m. M. Gervaize, who 
was officer of the watch, thought he saw once more an indication of land 
in the east. For some time he had noticed in this direction a greyish 
spot which appeared stationary; but we had already been so often 
misled by false appearances, so frequent in these latitudes, that we had 
become very sceptical. M. Dumouiin, who was on the poop, occupied 
at the moment in taking the bearings of the different ice-islands in 
sight, hastily climbed into the rigging to clear up all doubt ; he assured 
himself that the indication given by M. Gervaize referred to a cloud 
which, seen from the height of the mizzen top, appeared to be above the 
horizon. On coming down he also announced to me that right before us 
there was an appearauce of land much more distinct and sharply cut; 
this was in fact Adéhe Land. Thanks to this circumstance, M. Dumoulin 
was the first among us all to see this land. But he had been so often 
deceived by illusions of this kind that he was himself far from believing 
in his discovery, and he was one of the very last to recognise the reality 
of its existence. 
At 6 p.m. we counted 59 great icebergs (glaces) round us and a great 
number of others in sight. The wind had quite dropped; the sea, 
beaten down under the weight of the enormous blocks which crowded 
it, was calm and smooth as a lake. The sun was shining in all its glory, 
and its rays, reflected on the crystal walls which surrounded us, produced 
a magical and charming effect. We had not a single man on the sick 
list. M. Dumoutier had warned me that he thought he recognised signs 
in some of the men of an approaching epidemic of scurvy; but happily 
all danger of this sort had rapidly disappeared, thauks to the precautions 
of the doctors. Thus our crews were full of courage and spirit and 
appeared happy and contented. They had been preparing for some time 
a ceremony similar to that practised on board ship when crossing the 
equator, and the actors, having asked my permission, were ready to 
appear on the scene as soon as we arrived at the polar circle. I have 
always thought that the practical jokes which the sailors are in the habit 
of playing off on those who cross the equator for the first time, have a 
good effect on board ship, where any distraction for the sailors is so 
rare, and where want of employment and the consequent boredom spread 
depression among the crew. Therefore, far from opposing the buffoonery, 
for which vur men were preparing, I declared myself ready to be the 
first to submit to it; only, on account of the temperature, I forbade all 
throwing of water on the deck or of subjecting anyone to ablutions 
which are only supportable under the torrid zone. For the rest, I left 
