300 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



preparations for keeping the interior of the vessel at a temperature 

 no higher than 50°. I deemed this preferable to a higher tempera- 

 ture, in order to prevent the injurious effects which might be produced 

 by passing suddenly from below to the deck. I conceived it far more 

 important to keep the air dry than warm, particularly as a lower 

 temperature would have the effect of inducing the men to take 

 exercise for the purpose of exciting their animal heat. 



Aware that warm and dry clothing was an object of the first 

 importance, inspections of the men's feet and dress were held 

 morning and evening, in which the wearing of a suitable number of 

 garments was insisted upon, as well as the greatest personal cleanli- 

 ness. With the same views, the drying-stoves were particularly 

 attended to ; and that every part under deck might be effectually and 

 quickly freed of moisture, additional stoves had been procured at 

 Sydney. Thermometers were hung up in proper places, atid fre- 

 quently consulted, in order by following their indications to secure an 

 equable temperature, and at the time to ascertain when the use of 

 stoves might be dispensed with, in whole or in part. The latter was 

 an important consideration, for we were under the necessity of 

 husbanding our stock of fuel, by expending it only when absolutely 

 necessary. 



We also took advantage of the fine weather to bend all our best 

 sails, and to shift our top-gallant masts. 



The 1st January was one of those days, which are termed, both 

 at sea and on shore, a weather-breeder. The sea was smooth and 

 placid, but the sky was in places lowering, and had a wintry cast, to 

 which we had long been strangers ; the temperature shortly began to 

 fall, the breeze to increase, and the weather to become misty. In a 

 few hours we were sailing rapidly through the water, with a rising 

 sea, and by midnight it was reported that the tender Flying-Fish 

 was barely visible. I shortened sail, but it was difficult to stop our 

 way ; and on the morning of the 2d of January, the fog was dense, 

 and the Peacock and Porpoise only were in sight; we hove-to, and 

 the Peacock and Porpoise were ordered to stand east and west, in 

 order to intercept the tender, but they returned without success ; we 

 also fired guns in hopes of being heard. In the afternoon, I deemed 

 it useless to wait any longer for her, and that I must take the chance 

 of falling in with her at Macquarie Island, our first appointed place 

 of rendezvous, — a visit to which I had flattered myself might have 

 been avoided, but which it became necessary now to make. We 



