32S ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



and all approach to the land on the east and west was entirely cut off 

 by the close packing of the icebergs. I was, therefore, reluctantly 

 compelled to return, not a little vexed that we were again foiled in 

 our endeavour to reach the Antarctic continent. This was a deep 

 indentation in the coast, about twenty-five miles wide ; we explored 

 it to the depth of about fifteen miles, and did not reach its termina- 

 tion. This bay I have called Disappointment Bay ; it is in latitude 

 67° 04' 30" S., longitude 147° 30' E. The weather was remarkably 

 fine, with a bracing air; the thermometer in the air 22°, in the 

 water 31°. 



The next day, 24th, we stood out of the bay, and continued our 

 course to the westward. About noon, to my surprise, I learnt that 

 one of the officers, Lieutenant Underwood, had marked on the log- 

 slate that there was an opening of clear water, subtending three points 

 of the compass, at the bottom of Disappointment Bay. Though 

 confident that this was not the fact, in order to put this matter at 

 rest, I at once determined to return, although forty miles distant, 

 and ordered the ship about, to refute the assertion by the officer's 

 own testimony. This was most effectually done the next morning, 

 25th, when the ship reached the identical spot, and all were fully con- 

 vinced that no opening existed. The whole bay was enclosed by 

 a firm barrier of ice from north-northwest to east-northeast. 



The weather proved delightful, with light airs from the southward, 

 and I determined to take this opportunity to fill up the water-tanks 

 with ice. The ship was hove-to, a hawser got in readiness, the boats 

 lowered, and brought alongside of an iceberg well adapted to our 

 purpose. 



The same opportunity was also taken to make the magnetic obser- 

 vations on the ice, and to try the local attraction of the ship. 



Many birds were seen about the ship, of which we were fortunate 

 in obtaining specimens. The day was remarkably clear, and the 

 same appearance of land was seen that had been witnessed on the 

 24th. We filled nineteen of our tanks with ice, after having allowed 

 it to remain for some time on deck for the salt water to drain off in 

 part, and it proved very potable. 



The view of the ship in this position will give an idea of her 

 situation. 



At about 5 p. m., we had completed our required store of ice, and 

 cast off, making sail to the northward. 



In order that no further mistakes should take place as to the 



