ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 285 



the Peacock got beyond hearing of our horns, bells, drums, and guns, 

 and was parted with.. This, however, I did not now regret so much, 

 as it was of little consequence whether we sought one or two vessels 

 at our rendezvous, although it might cause a longer detention there. 



The wind was now (5th January) veering rapidly to the northwest, 

 with some thunder and lightning, and we in consequence expected the 

 wind to haul to the southwest, but to my surprise, it went back to the 

 northeast, with thick rainy weather. This return of the wind to its 

 old quarter followed a fall of the barometer to 29-60 in., and in a few 

 hours afterwards to 29-30 in., while the weather continued moderate ; 

 a large number of albatrosses, Port Egmont hens, and petrels, were 

 seen. 



For the last few days we were unable to get any observations, but 

 on the 6th we were favoured with a sight of the sun, and found our- 

 selves in the latitude of 53° 30' S., and longitude 157° 35' E. Our 

 variation had increased to fifteen and a half degrees easterly. This 

 being a fine day, we completed our calking, and the more effectual 

 securing of the ship. At midnight, we were about fifty miles from 

 Macquarie Island. 



The morning of the 7th was misty, with squally weather. A heavy 

 sea rising, and a strong gale setting in, we lost sight of the Porpoise 

 for a few hours. Being unable to see beyond an eighth of a mile, it 

 was thought imprudent to run, for fear of passing the island, and we 

 hove-to to await its moderating. It cleared at noon, and we obtained 

 an observation, by which we found ourselves in latitude 54° 20' S., 

 and longitude 160° 47' E. I found that we had been carried to the 

 eastward upwards of twenty miles in less than eighteen hours ; this, 

 with the wind hauling to the southwest, brought us to leeward of the 

 island, *and the sea and w T ind increasing, I saw it was useless to 

 attempt to reach it without great loss of time. I therefore bore off 

 to the southward for our second rendezvous, Emerald Island, or its 

 supposed locality. 



On the morning of the 8th, the wind, which continued from the 

 same quarter, with heavy cumulous clouds, began to moderate, and 

 we were enabled to make more sail. By our observations, we found 

 a current setting to the southeast, of one mile an hour. Our longitude 

 was 162° 13' E., latitude 55° 38' S. The barometer stood at 30-00 in. ; 

 the temperature had fallen to 38° ; and this change, on account of the 

 rawness of the air, was much felt by the crew. 



During the 9th we passed the site of Emerald Isle, situate, as has 

 been stated, in latitude 57° 15' S., and longitude 162° 30' E., but saw 

 nothing of it, nor any indications of land, which I therefore infer does 



