152 SOUTHERN CRUISE. 



On the 20th, they had moderate weather, with fogs. They had now 

 reached the longitude of 90° W., latitude 68° S., and obtained a sight 

 of the icy barrier. The fog becoming dense, they were obliged to 

 heave the ship to ; the sea being smooth, they took the opportunity to 

 sound with the deep-sea line, with the apparatus for temperature. The 

 line being of copper wire, they succeeded in getting out eight hundred 

 fathoms of it; but when they began to reel it up, it parted, and the 

 whole was lost. The noise of the sea beating on the icebergs was 

 frequently heard close aboard, and several loud sounds resembling 

 thunder, which they imputed to the breaking asunder and turning over 

 of large icebergs. 



The dip was also tried, and was made 78° ; the variation was found 

 to be 33° easterly. On the fog lifting, they found themselves in near 

 proximity to icebergs and field-ice. Some few petrels were seen 

 about the ship, of a different species from any heretofore observed by 

 us. All trials to obtain one proved unsuccessful. 



During the whole of the 21st they could not venture to run, in 

 consequence of the dense fog, which lasted all day, with the exception 

 of about an hour. Mr. Peale having shot one of the petrels, of the 

 same kind as seen the day before, a boat was lowered to pick it up, 

 of which advantage was taken to try the current. It was found setting 

 one-third of a mile per hour to the northwest-by-west. 



The 22d also proved foggy. At daylight the fog lifted for a few 

 moments, and they discovered the icy barrier extending from north- 

 east-by-north to southeast-by-east. At about 9 a. m. the fog again 

 lifted, when they discovered icebergs all around them, rendering their 

 position extremely dangerous. Every endeavour was made to effect 

 their escape as soon as possible. Besides petrels, Cape pigeons, &c, 

 a flock of tern was seen. 



The wind continuing from the northward and westward, they wore 

 ship to the northward. In the latter part of the day, considering their 

 situation in the vicinity of so many icebergs too dangerous to be held 

 under such circumstances, they therefore made sail, and ran off to seek 

 a more open sea. Many whales were seen and heard during the last 

 few days. 



On the 23d it partly cleared, and the fog having been succeeded by 

 a snow-storm, the wind hauled to the west, with a heavy bank of 

 clouds in that quarter. The barometer showed no indication of a 

 gale ; the weather turned out thick, and prevented them from seeing any 

 distance. They had some severe squalls, accompanied with snow. On 

 the 24th, the wind hauling to the northward and westward, brought 

 snow and thick weather, with some heavy squalls. Many icebergs 



