348 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



stars were formed were quite distinct, and of regular crystals. The 

 temperature at the time was 28°. The barometer stood at 28-76 in., 

 about three-tenths lower than we had had it for the last twelve days. 

 The wind was easterly. 



19th. During this day the barrier trended more to the northeast, 

 and we not unfrequently entered bays so deep as to find ourselves, on 

 reaching the extremity, cut off by the barrier, and compelled to 

 return to within a few miles of the place where we had entered. I 

 thought at first that this might have been caused by the tide or 

 current, but repeated trials showed none. Neither did I detect any 

 motion in the floating ice except what was caused by the wind. Our 

 longitude to-day was 101° E., latitude 63° 02' S. Some anxiety 

 seemed to exist among the officers and crew lest we should find 

 ourselves embayed or cut off from the clear sea, by a line of barrier. 

 There appeared strong reason for this apprehension, as the smooth sea 

 we had had for several days still continued, we had been sailing as if 

 upon a river, and the water had not assumed its blue colour. 



It was, therefore, with great pleasure that, on the 20th, a slight 

 swell was perceived, and the barrier began to trend more to the north- 

 ward, and afterwards again to the westward. In the morning we found 

 ourselves still surrounded by great numbers of ice-islands. After 

 obtaining a tolerably clear space, the day being rather favourable, we 

 sounded with the deep-sea line eight hundred and fifty fathoms; 

 Six's thermometer gave at the surface 31°, and at the depth of eight 

 hundred and fifty fathoms 35°, an increase of four degrees. The 

 current was again tried, but none was found. A white object was 

 visible at eleven fathoms. The water had now assumed a bluish cast. 



We endeavoured to-day to land on an iceberg, but there was too 

 much sea. Shrimps were in great quantities about it, but swam too 

 deep to be taken. The wind again hauled to the westward, which 

 disappointed me, as I was in hopes of getting to the position where 

 Cook saw the ice in 1773, being now nearly in the same latitude. It 

 was less than one hundred miles to the westward of us ; and little 

 doubt can exist that its situation has not materially changed in sixty- 

 seven years. 



The observations of the squadron during this season's Antarctic 

 cruise, together with those of the preceding year, would seem to 

 confirm the opinion that very little change takes place in the line 

 of ice. It may be inferred that the line of perpetual congelation 

 exists in a lower latitude in some parts of the southern hemisphere 



