310 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



all approach to the land on the east and west was entirely cut off by 

 the close packing of the icebergs. I was, therefore, reluctantly com- 

 pelled to return, not a little vexed that we were again foiled in our 

 endeavour to reach the Antarctic Continent. This was a deep inden- 

 tation in the coast, about twenty-five miles wide : we explored it to the 

 depth of about fifteen miles, and did not reach its termination. This 

 bay I have called Disappointment Bay : it is in latitude 67° 04' 30" S., 

 longitude 147° 30' E. The weather was remarkably fine, with a 

 bracing air: the thermometer in the air 22°, in the water 31°. 



The next day, 24th, we stood out of the bay, and continued our 

 course to the westward. About noon, to my surprise, I learnt that one 

 of the officers, Lieutenant Underwood, had marked on the log-slate that 

 there was an opening of clear water, subtending three points of the 

 compass, at the bottom of Disappointment Bay. Though confident 

 that this was not the fact, in order to put this matter at rest, I at once 

 determined to return, although forty miles distant, and ordered the ship 

 about, to refute the assertion by the officer's own testimony. This was 

 most effectually done the next morning, 25th, when the ship reached the 

 identical spot, and all were fully convinced that no opening existed. 

 The whole bay was enclosed by a firm barrier of ice, from north-north- 

 west to east-northeast. 



The weather proved delightful, with light airs from the southward, 

 and I determined to take this opportunity to fill up the water-tanks with 

 ice. The ship was hove-to, a hawser got in readiness, the boats 

 lowered, and brought alongside of an iceberg well adapted to our 

 purpose. 



The same opportunity was also taken to make the magnetic obser- 

 vations on the ice, and to try the local attraction of the ship. 



Many birds were seen about the ship, of which we were fortunate in 

 obtaining specimens. The day was remarkably clear, and the same 

 appearance of land was seen that had been witnessed on the 24th. We 

 filled nineteen of our tanks with ice, after having allowed it to remain 

 for some time on deck for the salt water to drain off in part, and it 

 proved very potable. 



At about 5 p. m., we had completed our required store of ice, and 

 cast off, making sail to the northward. 



In order that no further mistakes should take place as to the openings 

 being passed, I issued an order, directing the officer of the deck on 

 being relieved to go to the masthead, and report to me the exact situa- 

 tion of the ice ; and this was continued during the remainder of our 

 cruise among it. 



