CHAPTER X. 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE — CONTINUED. 

 1840. 



In taking up the narrative of the disaster sustained by the Peacock, 

 with which the preceding chapter closes, the Vincennes and Porpoise 

 were left on the 22d of January. 



On that day the Vincennes passed the place through which the 

 Peacock entered, as has been related, on the 23d, and found no 

 opening. To judge from the manner in which the ice moved during 

 the time the Peacock was enclosed in it, I am inclined to ascribe the 

 alternate opening and closing of the passage into the bay, to a tide 

 setting along this coast. In support of this opinion it is sufficient to 

 state, that the strength of the winds experienced on board that vessel 

 was at no time sufficient to account for the manner in which the ice 

 w _ as found to move. 



About thirty miles to the westward of this point the Vincennes 

 passed a remarkable collection of tabular icebergs, for whose existence 

 I can account in no other manner than by supposing them to be 

 attached to a rocky islet, which formed a nucleus, to which they 

 adhered. It was quite obvious that they had not been formed in 

 the place where they were seen, and must, therefore, have grounded, 

 after being adrift. 



On the 23d January, after passing around this group of icebergs, 

 the sea was found comparatively clear, and a large open space showed 

 itself to the southward. Into this space the course of the Vincennes 

 was immediately directed. While thus steering to the south, the 

 appearance of land was observed on either hand, both to the eastward 

 and westward. 



Pursuing this course, we by midnight reached the solid barrier, 



