312 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



At 6 a. m. on the 28th, we again made sail, and at 8 a. m. we dis- 

 covered the Porpoise, to whom we made signals to come within hail. 

 We found them all well, and compared chronometers. 



As it still blew fresh from the southeast, and the weather became a 

 little more clear, we both bore away, running through much drift-ice, 

 at the rate of nine knots an hour. We had the barrier in sight ; it was, 

 however, too thick to see much beyond it. Sailing in this way I felt to 

 be extremely hazardous ; but our time was so short for the examination 

 of this icy coast, that while the barrier was to be seen, I deemed it my 

 duty to proceed. We fortunately, by good look-outs, and carefully 

 conning the ship, were enabled to avoid any heavy thumps. 



On the 27th, we again had the wind from south-southwest. The 

 floe-ice had become so thick, that we found it impossible to get through 

 it in the direction I wished to go, and we were compelled to pass round 

 it. The Porpoise was in sight until noon. The weather proved beau- 

 tifully clear. A long range of tabular icebergs was in sight to the 

 southward, indicating, as I have before observed, that the coast was 

 near. I passed through these, losing sight of the Porpoise to the north- 

 west about noon, when we were in longitude 142° 40' E., latitude 65° 

 54' 21" S., variation 5° 08' easterly. 



On the 28th, I found myself completely surrounded by the tabular 

 icebergs, through which we continued to pass. Towards midnight the 

 wind shifted to the southeast, and enabled me to haul more to the 

 southward. At 9J a. m. we had another sight of the land ahead, and 

 every prospect of nearing it, with a fine breeze. The sight of the ice- 

 bergs around us, all of large dimensions, was beautiful. The greatest 

 number in sight at one time was noted, and found to be more than a 

 hundred, varying from a quarter of a mile to three miles in length. We 

 took the most open route, and by eleven o'clock had run upwards of 

 forty miles through them. We had the land now in plain view, but the 

 weather soon began to thicken and the breeze to freshen. At noon it 

 was so thick that every thing was hidden, and no observation was 

 obtained. The ship was hove-to, but shortly after again put under way, 

 making several tacks to keep my position, which I felt was becoming 

 a critical one, in case a gale should ensue. I therefore looked care- 

 fully over my chart, and was surprised at the vast number of icebergs 

 that appeared on it. At 2 p. m. the barometer began to fall, and the 

 weather to change for the worse. At 5 p. m. a gale was evidently 

 coming on, so we took three reefs in the topsails. It appeared now that 

 certain wreck would ensue, should we remain where we were ; and 

 after much consideration, I made up my mind to retrace my way, and 

 seek the open space forty miles distant, taking for a landmark a 



