156 SOUTHERN CRUISE. 
quarter, and they were a short time afterwards completely enveloped 
in a fog so dense and thick, that they could not see twice the length 
of the ship. Fortunately, hefore it closed in, they were enabled to 
get good bearings of the different icebergs in sight, and particularly 
of those which closely surrounded them. 
On the 20th they had moderate weather with fogs. They had 
now reached the longitude of 90° W., latitude 68° S., and obtained a 
sight of the icy barrier. The fog becoming dense, they were obliged 
to heave the ship to, and the sea being smooth, they took the 
opportunity to sound with the deep sea line, with the apparatus 
for temperature. The line being of copper wire, they succeeded in 
getting out eight hundred fathoms of it, but when they began to reel 
it up, it parted, and the whole was lost. The noise of the sea beating 
on the icebergs was frequently heard close aboard, and several loud 
sounds resembling thunder, which they imputed to the breaking 
asunder and turning over of large icebergs. 
The dip was also tried, and was made 78° ; the variation was found 
to be 33° easterly. On the fog lifting they found themselves in near 
proximity to icebergs and field ice. Some few petrels were seen 
about the ship of a different species from any heretofore observed by 
us. All trials to obtain one proved unsuccessful. 
During the whole of the 21st they could not venture to run, in 
consequence of the dense fog, which lasted all day, with the ex- 
ception of about an hour. Mr. Peale having shot one of the petrels, 
of the same kind as seen the day before, a boat was lowered to pick it 
up, of which advantage was taken to try the current. It was found 
setting one third of a mile per hour to the northwest by west. 
The 22d proved also foggy. At daylight the fog lifted for a few 
moments, and they discovered the icy barrier extending from north- 
east by north to southeast by east. At about 9 a. m. the fog again 
lifted, when they discovered icebergs all around them, rendering their 
position extremely dangerous. Every endeavour was made to effect 
their escape as soon as possible. Besides petrels, Cape pigeons, &c, 
a flock of tern were seen. 
The wind continuing from the northward and westward, they wore 
ship to the northward. In the latter part of the day, considering 
their situation m the vicinity of so many icebergs too dangerous to 
beheld under such circumstances, they therefore made sail and ran 
off to seek a more open sea, Many whales were seen and heard 
during the last few days. 
