ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



311 



In threading our way through the many icebergs, it occurred to me 

 that they might be considered as islands, and a rough survey made of 

 them, by taking their bearings at certain periods, and making diagrams 

 of their positions. This was accordingly done, and every few hours 

 they were inserted on the chart which I was constructing in my 

 progress. 



The following is one of the diagrams. 



<?^ 



Jdy 



*^^i2^K«aSiiiQ'^ 



I 



is mih? 



This I found to be very useful, and it gave me confidence in pro- 

 ceeding, for I had a tolerable chart to retreat by in case of need, at 

 least for a few hours, during which time I had reason to believe that 

 there was not much probability of the icebergs changing their relative 

 positions. 



The dip observed on the ice was 87° 30', and the variation 12° 46' 

 easterly. The compasses were found to be very sluggish, having but 

 little horizontal directive force. 



About half an hour after we cast off from the iceberg, a thick snow- 

 storm came up, with the wind from the southeast. Although there 

 were very many ice-islands around us, on our way out, I felt that I 

 understood the ground well, having passed over it twice, and knowing 

 I had a space of a few miles, only thinly sprinkled with icebergs, I 

 hove-to with shortened sail. This was the first southeast wind we had 

 had since being on this coast. I had been disappointed in not finding it 

 from that quarter before ; for I had been informed, by those who had 

 navigated in high southern latitudes, that southeast would be the pre- 

 vailing wind, and would be attended with fine weather. Now, how T - 

 ever, with a fair wind, I was unable to run, for the weather was un- 

 favourable. 



