304 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



Previously to parting company on the 3d of January, the crew of 

 that ship had also been engaged in building hurricane-houses, calk- 

 ing and chintzing, to secure them from the wet and cold. After 

 parting company, Captain Hudson immediately steered for the first 

 rendezvous, Macquarie Island, and was more fortunate than we were 

 in reaching it, although the Peacock had experienced the same kind 

 of weather that we had, and currents setting to the eastward. 



MACaUARIE ISLAM). 



On approaching the island, they discovered large patches of kelp, 

 and saw numerous procellaria and albatrosses about the ship. On the 

 10th of January they made the island, and observed a reef of rocks 

 extending three quarters of a mile off its south end. Passing within 

 a short distance of it, they did not observe any of the signals of the 

 squadron flying as they had anticipated. They, notwithstanding, 

 stood in, lowered a boat, and despatched several officers to put up the 

 signal, make experiments, and collect specimens. The boat ap- 

 proached an indentation on the west side, too open to be called a bay, 

 and found that the surf was running high, and beating with great 

 violence against the rocks, which, together with the kelp, rendered it 

 dangerous to attempt landing. They made for several other places 

 which looked favourable at a distance, but on approaching them, they 

 were found even less accessible. The boat then returned to the first 

 place to make another attempt, which was attended with great diffi- 

 culty. The boat's anchor was dropped, and she was backed in with 

 great caution to the edge of the rollers ; the surf was very high, and 

 rolled in with a noise like thunder, breaking furiously upon the rocks, 

 so as to make the boat fairly tremble, and threatening every moment 

 to overwhelm her; once or twice she was prevented from getting 

 broadside-to by hauling out towards her anchor. At length, after 

 a dozen fruitless attempts, and awaiting a favourable opportunity, 

 Mr. Eld, and a quarter-master, succeeded in getting ashore, but not 

 without being immersed up to their breasts. It was found impossible 

 to land any instruments ; and the quarter-master was despatched to 

 erect the necessary signals, while Mr. Eld proceeded to visit the 



