322 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



weather was thick. Land was no longer seen to the south, a deep 

 bay apparently making in. We continued our course to the west- 

 ward along the barrier, until 8 p. m., when we were again brought to. 

 At 7 p. m. we had strong indications of land ; the barrier was of the 

 former perpendicular form, and later the outline of the Continent ap- 

 peared distinct though distant. The night was dark and unpleasant. 

 At noon our longitude was 127° 07' E., and latitude 65° 03' S. ; varia- 

 tion 14° 30' westerly. 



On the 9th we had the finest day we had yet experienced on this 

 coast ; the wind had veered from the east to southwest, and given us 

 a clear, bracing, and wholesome atmosphere. The barrier exhibited 

 the same appearance as yesterday. Our longitude was 125° 19' E., 

 latitude 65° 08' S., variation 32° 45' westerly. The current was tried, 

 but none found ; the pot was only visible at five fathoms ; the colour 

 of the water a dirty green; the dip sector gave 3' 15". I never saw 

 a clearer horizon, or one better defined than we had to the northward. 

 The icy barrier was really beautiful- At midnight we had a splendid 

 display of the aurora australis, extending all around the northern 



AUSTRALI3. 



horizon, from west-by-north to east-northeast. Before its appearance, 

 a few clouds only were seen in the southeast, on which the setting 



