APPENDIX. 429 
ice, until half past 11 p. m., of the 19th, when it became so abundant, 
and in such large masses around us, that we hove-to until daylight, 
frequently filling to avoid damage from it. 
At four o'clock a. m., we again stood on, but were soon again from the 
same causes obliged to heave-to. At this time the water was much 
discoloured, and much of the ice also having the appearance of being 
but lately detached from land. I got a cast of the lead in one hun- 
dred fathoms, no bottom. The same discoloration of the water I 
afterwards observed always in the vicinity of extensive masses of ice; 
and thought it might possibly be produced by refraction. At eight 
o'clock the fog suddenly lifted, and to the amazement of all on deck, 
disclosed to us a wall of ice, from fifteen to twenty feet high, extending 
east and west as far as the eye could reach, and spreading out into a 
vast and seemingly boundless field to the southward ; and so close 
under the lee that I did not venture to ware, but after getting the 
foresail on her, stood on to the westward, luffing and bearing away 
alternately to avoid a dangerous contact with large detached masses, 
with which the sea was filled in all directions. At length finding a 
place sufficiently clear to put the helm down, we worked out, with 
.the same risk, to the eastward, and at nine o'clock had reached a 
comparatively smooth sea. Our latitude at this time about 67° 20' S., 
longitude 105° W. Extremities of the field, as far as visible, bearing 
per compass east-by-north and southwest-half-west. 
It was formed of various sized masses, of all shapes, and shapeless, 
and of several colours, a dingy white (if I may say so) prevailing. 
Continued to coast along the ice until meridian, when, seeing large 
ice ahead, and weather thick, hauled to the northward, and soon ran 
into blue water. At 2 p. m., weather clearing a little and sea tolerably 
clear, stood to the southward and eastward, and at 3 h 20 m , saw the 
ice in unbroken ranks, bearing from west-by-south to southeast-by- 
south. At four, the weather very thick, stood to the northward 
and eastward; water discoloured. At the time of taking the above 
last bearings, our view not extending beyond a few miles. 
At six o'clock, weather lighting up, discovered field-ice distant 
about four miles, bearing from southeast to east per compass, passing 
through floating ice. At eight, lowered the foresail, and hove-to 
head to the northward, winds moderate with thick rainy weather, but 
finding her drifting upon the ice seen before dark, filled and stood to 
the northward and eastward. At ten, the ice thickening around us, 
tacked to the westward. From eleven to midnight saw no ice, but 
vol. i. 108 
