ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 317 



a specimen, and now graces the collection at Washington. In his 

 craw were found thirty-two pebbles, from the size of a pea to that of 

 a hazel-nut. 



Bergs and field-ice were in various directions around ; they had 

 light baffling winds, clear and pleasant weather, with a smooth sea. 

 The water was of a dark green colour. Standing into the bay for 

 the purpose of approaching the land, they at 5 a. m. passed through 

 drift-ice into an open space, and when they had again approached the 

 field, hove-to for the purpose of sounding. Here bottom was found at 

 the depth of eight hundred fathoms ; and the matter brought up was 

 similar to that obtained the day before. The distance between the 

 points where these two soundings were obtained, was but short. 



At 8 b 30 m a. M., while attempting to box off the ship from some ice 

 under the bow, she made a stern-board, which brought the stern so 

 forcibly in contact with another mass of ice, that it seemed from the 

 shock, as if it were entirely stove in ; the rudder was so much canted 

 from its position, as to carry away the starboard wheel-rope, and to 

 wrench "the neck of the rudder itself in such a manner, as to render it 

 unserviceable, or even worse than useless. In hopes of lessening the 

 difficulty, relieving tackles were applied to the tiller, but without 

 effect, for it was discovered that the rudder had been so far twisted as 

 to make a considerable angle with the keel, and every exertion to 

 move it proved ineffectual. 



All hands were now called, and every officer and man was speedily 

 at his station. The ship was found to be rapidly entering the ice, 

 and every effort to direct her course by the management of the 

 sails proved fruitless. In this helpless condition scarcely a moment 

 passed without a new shock in some quarter or other from the ice, 

 and every blow threatened instant destruction. The hope was not 

 yet abandoned, that some temporary expedient might be found to 

 bring the rudder again into use, until they should be extricated from 

 this perilous situation. A stage was, therefore, rigged over the stern, 

 for the purpose of examining into its state, but it was found to be so 

 much injured that it was impossible to remedy its defects while in 

 its place, and preparations were forthwith made for unshipping it. 

 In the mean time the position of the vessel was every instant growing 

 worse, surrounded as she was by masses of floe-ice, and driving fur- 

 ther and further into it, towards an immense wall-sided iceberg. All 

 attempts to get the vessel on the other tack failed, in consequence of 

 her being so closely encompassed, and it was therefore thought ex- 



vol. 11. 80 



