410 APPENDIX. 



duty to run over the track laid down for me, and on the 18th reached 

 the fourth and last rendezvous, having passed the 17th in the vicinity. 

 We turned our head south for Cook's Ne Plus Ultra, the longitude 

 alone being specified in the instructions — we continued our course to 

 the southward, the weather at times very thick, ice-islands becoming 

 numerous, and occasionally passing a little floating ice, until half-past 

 11 p.m., of the 19th, when it became so abundant and in such large 

 masses around us, that we hove-to until daylight, frequently filling to 

 avoid damage from it. 



At four o'clock a. m., we again stood on, but were soon again from 

 the same causes obliged to heave-to. At this time the water was much 

 discoloured, and much of the ice also having the appearance of being 

 but lately detached from land. I got a cast of the lead in one hundred 

 fathoms, — no bottom. The same discoloration of the water I after- 

 wards observed always in the vicinity of extensive masses of ice ; and 

 thought it might possibly be produced by refraction. At eight o'clock 

 the fog suddenly lifted, and to the amazement of all on deck, disclosed 

 to us a wall of ice, from fifteen to twenty feet high, extending east and 

 west as far as the eye could reach, and spreading out into a vast and 

 seemingly boundless field to the southward, and so close under the lee 

 that I did not venture to ware, but after getting the foresail on her, 

 stood on to the westward, luffing and bearing away alternately to avoid 

 a dangerous contact with large detached masses, with which the sea 

 was filled in all directions. At length finding a place sufficiently clear 

 to put the helm down, we worked out, with the same risk, to the east- 

 ward, and at nine o'clock had reached a comparatively smooth sea. 

 Our latitude at this time about 67° 20' S., longitude 105° W. ; extre- 

 mities of the field, as far as visible 5 bearing per compass east-by-north 

 and southwest-half-west. 



It was formed of various sized masses, of all shapes, and shapeless, 

 and of several colours, a dingy white (if I may say so) prevailing. 

 Continued to coast along the ice until meridian, when, seeing large ice 

 ahead, and weather thick, hauled to the northward, and soon ran into 

 blue water. At 2 p. m., weather clearing a little and sea tolerably 

 clear, stood to the southward and eastward, and at 3 h 20 m , saw the ice 

 in unbroken ranks, bearing from west-by-south to southeast-by-south. 

 At four, the weather very thick, stood to the northward and eastward ; 

 water discoloured : at the time of taking the above last bearings, our 

 view not extending beyond a few miles. 



At six o'clock, weather lighting up, discovered field-ice distant 

 about four miles, bearing from southeast to east per compass, passing 

 through floating ice. At eight, lowered the foresail, and hove-to head 



