ANTARCTIC CR"TSE. 117 



During the 4th, 5th, and 6th, the weather continued unfa- 

 vorable. 



On the 7th, we had clear weather and made very good pro- 

 gress. The Antarctic Continent was several times in sight in 

 the course of the day, and a point of it, situated in latitude 

 65° 48' 00" south, and longitude 131° 40' 00" east, was 

 named Cape Cafr, after the first-lieutenant of this ship. 

 The health of the crew is improving. 



February 11th. We had moderate breezes from the south- 

 ward and westward, accompanied with snow at intervals. 

 Great numbers of penguins and petrels seen about the ship ; 

 also a flock of birds, about the size of a gray plover, having 

 black heads and bills, a white ring round the neck, and a 

 small white spot on the tail — the rest of the body of a pale ash 

 color ; their flight and whistle were also similar to the plover. 

 The continent was in sight to the westward, and the sea quite 

 smooth and studded with icebergs of every variety of shape. 

 During the night we hove-to, it being very dark. 



February 12th. At 8 A. M., we made sail. At 1 P. M., 

 observed a range of mountains covered with snow, for which 

 we steered until we came to the barrier of ice. From 2 to 

 4.30 P. M., we " lay-to," in hopes of discovering an opening 

 by which we could get near the land ; but none appeared. As 

 usual, the barrier was formed of solid ice, and its line was 

 nearly straight. Our latitude was 64° 56' 00" south ; longi- 

 tude 112° 17' 00" east. At 4.45 sounded with 150 fathoms 

 line — thermometer attached — temperature at that depth 29°, 

 at the surface 30°. The color of the water was dirty green. 

 Current there was none. At sunset land was still in sight, 

 bearing from southwest-by-south to west half-north. 



February 14th. The weather continues pleasant. At 

 daylight worked up for the clearest passage, and stood in for 



