ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 371 



being 121° 30' E., latitude 65° 15' S. On this night they experienced 

 a heavy gale, during which the barometer fell to 27-50 in., where it 

 remained during part of the 22d. The squalls were very severe, 

 accompanied with snow, sleet, hail, and heavy seas : they had now 

 reached longitude 122° E., and latitude 64° 09' S. 



February 22d, being Washington's birthday, the colours were 

 hoisted, and the crew received an extra allowance. Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold took this occasion to express to them his 

 satisfaction for the manner in which they had performed their 

 duties during the present cruise, and that their conduct would 

 be duly represented to the commander of the Expedition, and the 

 government. 



On the 23d, the weather was again thick, with snow and mist. 



On the 24th they had reached longitude 126° E., and latitude 64° 

 29' S. On this day they again sighted the barrier; when, having 

 completed what he deemed a full execution of his instructions, Lieu- 

 tenant-Commandant Ringgold determined to put the brig's head 

 north, — which was accordingly done. 



Strong winds and gales continued for the next three days. On the 

 27th they again found themselves in east variation, in longitude 138° 

 E., latitude 60° 08' S. The white albatross had now again become 

 common. 



On the 29th, they had a beautiful display of the aurora australis; 

 the whole southern hemisphere was covered with arches of a beautiful 

 straw-colour, from which streamers radiated, both upwards and down- 

 wards, of almost a lustrous white ; numbers of concentric arches would 

 occasionally show themselves, of a width of a few feet, uniting to form 

 a complete canopy for a moment, and then vanish. The arches ex- 

 tended from east-southeast to west-northwest ; the display continued 

 for over two hours; the stars were seen above them. Previous to, 

 and during its continuance, the thermometer indicated a change of 

 four degrees, and the wind shifted to the southward. 



On the 1st of March, in latitude 55° S., and longitude 140° E., 

 they passed the last ice-island. 



On the 2d, great numbers of pyrosoma of large size were passed. 



On the 4th, some faint appearances of the aurora australis were 

 seen. 



On the 5th, the Lord Auckland Isles were descried. Mr. Totten, 

 who was officer of the deck, was accidentally knocked overboard by 

 the trysail-boom, but was fortunately rescued without injury. Im- 



