CHAPTER X. 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE — CONTINUED. 

 1840. 



In taking up the narrative of the disaster sustained by the Peacock, 

 with which the preceding chapter closes, the Vincennes and Porpoise 

 were left on the 22d of January. 



On that day the Vincennes passed the place through which the Pea- 

 cock entered, as has been related, on the 23d, and found no opening. 

 To judge from the manner in which the ice moved during the time the 

 Peacock was enclosed in it, I am inclined to ascribe the alternate open- 

 ing and closing of the passage into the bay, to a tide setting along this 

 coast. In support of this opinion it is sufficient to state, that the strength 

 of the winds experienced on board that vessel was at no time sufficient 

 to account for the manner in which the ice was found to move. 



About thirty miles to the westward of this point, the Vincennes 

 passed a remarkable collection of tabular icebergs, for whose existence 

 I can account in no other manner than by supposing them to be 

 attached to a rocky islet, which formed a nucleus to which they 

 adhered. It was quite obvious that they had not been formed in the 

 place where they were seen, and must, therefore, have grounded, after 

 being adrift. 



On the 23d January, after passing around this group of icebergs, the 

 sea was found comparatively clear, and a large open space showed 

 itself to the southward. Into this space the course of the Vincennes 

 was immediately directed. While thus steering to the south, the 

 appearance of land was observed on either hand, both to the eastward 

 and westward. 



Pursuing this course, we by midnight reached the solid barrier, and 



(309) 



