ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 375 



On the 20th, in latitude 41° 00' S., longitude 177° E., the current 

 was found setting northeast-by-north, half a mile per hour. On the 

 22d and 23d they experienced a heavy gale from the southeast, 

 when they were in longitude 179° 35' E., and latitude 37° 52' S. ; 

 during the morning of the latter day the wind hauled to the south- 

 southwest; the barometer, at 3 a. m., stood at 29-10 in. ; the weather 

 cleared, with the wind at southwest. 



On the 26th, they reached and anchored in the river Kawa-Kawa, 

 in the Bay of Islands, off the American consul's, about three miles 

 above its mouth. Many vessels were passed lying at anchor off the 

 town of Kororarika. Here they found the tender Flying-Fish; all 

 well. 



The cruise of the latter will now be taken up from the 1st of 

 January, on which day she parted company with the Vincennes, 

 in consequence of having carried away a gaff, and being obliged to 

 shorten sail, in doing which their jib-stay got adrift, and carried 

 away the squaresail-yard before it could be secured. The vessel was 

 in the mean time exposed to a heavy sea beating over her, and at 

 midnight they were compelled to heave-to. They then steered for 

 the first rendezvous, Macquarie Island, where they arrived on the 

 10th, in the afternoon, and saw the Peacock, but it becoming thick, 

 they were not seen by that ship. 



On the 11th, Acting-Master Sinclair landed for the purpose of 

 placing a signal on the island, agreeably to instructions. The land- 

 ing was found difficult and dangerous, and their description of the 

 island agrees with that heretofore given of it from the notes of Mr. 

 Eld, as being dreary and inhospitable. Large numbers of penguins, 

 and small green and yellow paroquets were seen. Near where they 

 landed, they saw about twenty huge sea-elephants basking on the 

 rocks, which did not seem to heed them ; when disturbed, they would 

 only throw their carcasses over, open their mouths, utter a loud 

 growl, and go to sleep again ; no measurement was taken of them, 

 and one which was killed could not be taken in the boat. The soil 

 was soft and spongy, yielding to the pressure of the feet. The staff 

 and signal being planted, they returned on board, and now passed 

 the surf without difficulty. 



On the 12th, they put away for the next rendezvous, Emerald 

 Isle. They reached its position on the 14th, but nothing was seen 

 of it ; the weather was thick. 



