SOUTHERNCRUISE. 155 



these latitudes had passed, and that it was advisable for the vessels to 

 proceed without delay to the north. 



He remarks in his report (which, together with Lieutenant Walker's, 

 will be found in Appendix XXXI.), " That it required more moral 

 courage than I can well describe, to bring my mind to this decision, 

 for we had at that moment less ice about us than at any time since we 

 had entered among it; but I felt satisfied, taking all things into 

 consideration, that nothing more could be done at this late season, and 

 that it would be recklessly hazarding the lives of those entrusted to 

 my care, jeoparding the vessels, and of great detriment to the future 

 operations of the Expedition, which an honest conviction of the duty 

 I owed my country, most decidedly forbade." The vessels accord- 

 ingly steered to the northward. 



The weather, during the cruise south, was exceedingly unfavour- 

 able ; for, with few exceptions, during their stay in the Antarctic 

 Circle, they were enveloped in dense fogs, or found only occasional 

 relief from them in falls of snow. The crew during the whole time 

 enjoyed an unusual degree of health, which is not a little surprising ; 

 for, since leaving Orange Harbour, the state of the ship had been such 

 as to promote disease. The precautions and endeavours to keep the 

 men dry, entirely failed, from the condition of the ship, heretofore 

 referred to. 



On the night of the 26th, they had again a slight display of the 

 aurora, its radiations extending 30° in altitude. Fresh gales blew 

 from the northwest, with a heavy sea, so that the tender found diffi- 

 culty in keeping company, and they reduced sail in order to avoid 

 parting with her. 



The fresh gales continued on the 27th, accompanied with rain. 

 Towards night it cleared a little, and, with the aid of the young moon, 

 they were enabled to run through the ice. 



The weather proved thick on the 28th and 29th, and they had little 

 opportunity of making progress to the north, against the northwest 

 winds, which were light. On this night a new danger beset them, that 

 of being consumed by fire ! At midnight, on the 29th of March, they 

 were aroused by the smell of burning and smoke, issuing from the 

 main hold. The usual orders were given relative to the magazine. 

 The drum beat to quarters. On opening the main hatch, smoke issued 

 out in volumes, and fire was discovered under it, proceeding from a 

 bag in full blaze. This was soon passed on deck, and the fire extin- 

 guished. It was fortunately discovered in time, and was found to pro- 

 ceed from a quantity of coffee, which had been put below, in the bag, 

 after it had been burnt or roasted, the previous afternoon. 



