ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 299 



All doubt iii relation to the reality of our discovery gradually wore 

 away, and towards the close of the cruise of the Vincennes along the 

 icy barrier, the mountains of the Antarctic continent became familiar 

 and of daily appearance, insomuch that the log-book, which is guard- 

 edly silent as to the time and date of its being first observed, now 

 speaks throughout of " the land." 



After leaving Sydney we had, until the 31st December,* fine 

 weather and favourable winds. We took advantage of these, and 

 all sail was crowded on the vessels of the squadron ; at the above date 

 we had reached the latitude of 43° S. 



Under such circumstances, the usual order of sailing, in a line 

 abreast, was easily maintained, and the communications between the 

 vessels were frequent. On the 31st of December, I issued the sailing 

 instructions for the cruise, which will be found in Appendix XXV. 



During this favourable weather, all hands were employed in 

 tightening the ports, in order to secure the interior of the vessels as 

 much as possible from the cold and wet, which were to be appre- 

 hended in the region to which we were bound. For this purpose, 

 after calking all the openings, the seams were covered with tarred 

 canvass, over which strips of sheet-lead were nailed. The sailors 

 exhibited great interest in these preparations, and studiously sought 

 to make every thing snug ; all useless articles were stowed away in 

 the hold, for we were in truth full to overflowing, and places at other 

 times sacred were now crowded. 



It was fortunate that the weather for the first few days was so 

 favourable ; for so full was every place, that we had been compelled 

 to stow bread in the launch and cutter, and this in bulk; for the 

 quantity was so much beyond that which had been carried on any 

 former occasion, that a sufficient number of bags were not to be had, 

 and in the hurry of its reception on board, time had not been 

 found to provide them. Every ounce of bread thus exposed was 

 looked to with solicitude, for there was a chance that all of it might 

 be needed. 



Among other preparations, rough casings of boards were built 

 around all the hatches, having doors furnished with weights and 

 pulleys, in order to insure that they should not be left open. Having 

 thus provided for the exclusion of cold air, I contented myself with 



* During the 29th, 30th, and 31st December, the sea was very phosphorescent; tem- 

 perature 56°. 



