150 SOUTHERN CRUISE. 



could be more uncomfortable than the Peacock, and although every 

 precaution was taken to make the ports tight, yet from their working, 

 it was found impossible to keep them so. 



After the gale, they found they had been set about three miles per 

 hour to the southeast. Until the 3d of March, they had moderate 

 weather. On the morning of the 4th of March, the barometer stood 

 at 28-34 in. Shortly afterwards it began to rise, and a gale set in 

 which blew heavily for several hours, when the weather again mode- 

 rated, but the sea continued very high, and rendered the ship extremely 

 wet. The wind varied from south-by-west to west-northwest. 



On the 7th they again had squalls of snow and rain, with strong 

 gales. On the 9th, although the weather had moderated, yet the sea 

 was very heavy, and the ship tossed and tumbled about in every 

 direction. William Stewart, captain of the main-top, was this day 

 knocked off the yard, and in his fall struck the main rigging, but he 

 canted and fell overboard, when he was seen to lie quite insensible, 

 feet up, supported by his exploring boots, which were supposed to 

 have occasioned his fall. A bowline was thrown over them, and he 

 was dexterously drawn on board again. The ship had but little 

 headway, and it would have been impossible to lower a boat on 

 account of the roughness of the sea ; his rescue was therefore almost 

 miraculous. Every care was taken of him, but it was soon found that 

 the violence of the concussion had been so great that his lungs had 

 become gorged with blood, and little hopes were entertained of his 

 recovery. After lingering to the 11th, he died. He was greatly 

 regretted by both officers and men, for he had proved himself an 

 excellent man, and was well calculated for the service. On the same 

 day his body was committed to the deep, with the usual ceremonies. 



This day they made the first iceberg. The only indication in the 

 air or water on approaching it, was a fall of two degrees in the tem- 

 perature of the former, and one degree in the latter. Their position 

 was in latitude 64° S., and longitude 80° W. 



On the 13th the weather proved fine and the sea smooth, affording 

 an opportunity of making dip observations. These gave it 75°. The 

 variation was 33*30° E. Their position was in latitude 64° 27' S., 

 longitude 84° W. 



On the 14th, Captain Hudson remarked a great and striking change 

 in the weather since they passed the 62° of south latitude, it having 

 become much more settled, and free from the sudden squalls and con- 

 stant gales they had experienced since leaving Cape Horn. Several 

 birds were shot this day, including an albatross and many penguins. 

 Petrels and Cape pigeons were seen. They now began to fall in with 



