ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 365 



length in any direction ; she was hove-to, to await a change of 

 weather. 



The beginning of the 31st the gale continued; at 7 a. m. mode- 

 rating, they again made sail to the westward ; in half an hour 

 discovered a high barrier of ice to the northward, with ice-islands 

 to the southward; at 10 a. m. they found themselves in a great inlet 

 formed by vast fields of ice, which they had entered twelve hours 

 previously ; the only opening appearing to the eastward, they were 

 compelled to retrace their steps, which they effected at 8 p. M., 

 passing some ice-islands which they recognised as having been seen 

 the evening before. They now found themselves out of this dan- 

 gerous position, and, passing the point, kept away to the westward. 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold judged it prudent to heave-to 

 during the night, on account of the darkness. 



February 1st. The immense perpendicular barrier encountered yes- 

 terday was now in sight, trending as far as the eye could reach to the 

 westward ; it was of tabular form, from one hundred and fifty to one 

 hundred and eighty feet in height, of solid compact ice, resembling 

 a long line of coast ; wind moderate from the southeast, — a brilliant 

 blink extending along and elevated above the barrier. At 4 p. M., 

 they arrived at the end of this barrier, and found it trending off to 

 the southward, seeming as if numbers of icebergs had been broken 

 from the barrier by some mighty force, exceeding in numbers any 

 thing that had yet been seen, and extending as far south as could be 

 distinguished, interspersed with much drift and floe-ice. On the 

 southern horizon sixty-four ice-islands were counted, exclusive of 

 many near them, and those that were not distinguishable from the 

 barrier. 



The current was tried here, and found setting southeast nearly a 

 mile an hour. Pigeons around in numbers, also whales and large 

 flocks of penguins. 



The nights now evidently lengthened, thus adding to the cares and 

 anxieties attendant on this navigation. It was fortunate that the 

 prevailing winds were from the southeast and southwest, or coming 

 off the ice. If they had blown from the northward, they would 

 have been attended with danger, and might have proved fatal to the 

 vessel. 



2d. At meridian, in longitude 130° 36' E., and latitude 65° 24' S. 

 They were prevented from proceeding farther to the southward by 

 the impenetrable icy barrier. At this time they had one hundred 



vol. ii. 92 



