ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 383 



fourths of a knot per hour. The white object was seen at the depth 

 of fifteen fathoms. 



On the 1st of March we had reached the latitude of the Royal 

 Company's Isles, and I continued to run in nearly the same parallel 

 for eight degrees of longitude, without seeing any signs of the sup- 

 posed land. Having sailed far to the eastward of their supposed 

 position, I again hauled to the northward to proceed to Hobart Town, 

 Van Diemen's Land, to fill up our water. We now saw a sail, the 

 first during sixty days, which made us feel as if we were returning 

 to a habitable part of the globe. This night we had a brilliant 

 display of the aurora australis, resembling that seen on the 9th of 

 February, with this difference, that it was seen to the southward, 

 extending from east-southeast to west-southwest. 



On the 5th of March the wind headed us off our course to Hobart 

 Town ; I then determined to proceed direct to Sydney, and thus be 

 enabled to communicate as speedily as possible with the United 

 States. The consideration of getting intelligence respecting the other 

 vessels, also led to this determination. I felt, in truth, forebodings 

 that all was not well, from not having met any of the vessels at the 

 appointed rendezvous, along the icy barrier ; and I was anxious for 

 their safety, after the severe gale of the 28th of January. 



Having reached- a lower latitude, the weather had now become 

 pleasant, and we could dispense with our winter clothing, — a relief 

 which the whole of the crew seemed to enjoy. It was the reverse 

 with me ; I had a feeling of exhaustion and lassitude that I could not 

 account for, and the least exertion caused me much fatigue. 



On the 9th, we reached the latitude of Cape Howe, and were 

 seventy miles to the eastward of it. We there experienced a rise in 

 the temperature of the water : six degrees in less than an hour. 



On the 10th, when off Cape Jervis, and about forty miles to the 

 eastward of it, we again changed the temperature from 68° to 73°, as 

 we steered in for the land to the northward, but on hauling to the 

 eastward it again fell to 68°. A strong southerly current has been 

 long known to exist along this coast ; and I feel well satisfied that the 

 thermometer is a good guide in making the passage from the south- 

 ward. The coasting vessels, as I was informed at Sydney, had 

 frequently made long passages from Van Diemen's Land, and South 

 Australia, which I have but little doubt is owing to the prevalence of 

 this minor Gulf Stream, the position of which the use of the thermo- 

 meter will clearly indicate. This current will be noticed particularly 



