ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 32? 



noon a large sea-elephant was discovered on the ice ; two boats were 

 sent to effect his capture, and many balls were fired into him, but he 

 showed the utmost indifference to their effect, doing no more than to 

 raise his head at each shot. He contrived to escape by floundering 

 over the ice until he reached the water, in which he was quite a 

 different being. At about 7 p. m., Dr. Fox was despatched in a boat 

 to visit an ice-island that was very much discoloured with clay in 

 patches. He reported that there was upon it a large pond of muddy 

 water, not frozen, although the temperature on board was much below 

 the freezing point. We observed around the icebergs numerous right 

 whales, puffing in all directions. A large quantity of small Crustacea, 

 including shrimps, were here seen around the icebergs. These are 

 believed to be the cause that attracts whales to these parts ; they also 

 supply the numerous penguins with their food. For several days I 

 observed a great difference in the wind, by day and by night. It had 

 been fresh from the hour of seven in the morning until 8 p. m., when 

 it generally becomes light or dies away altogether. To-day we found 

 ourselves in longitude 99° E., and latitude 64° 21' S. We to-day 

 made observations throughout the twenty-four hours with Leslie's 

 photometer. These results will be found embraced in the volume of 

 Meteorology. 



On the 17th, about 10 a. m., we discovered the barrier extending 

 in a line ahead, and running north and south as far as the eye could 

 reach. Appearances of land were also seen to the southwest, and its 

 trending seemed to be to the northward. We were thus cut off from 

 any further progress to the westward, and obliged to retrace our steps. 

 This position of the ice disappointed me, although it concurred with 

 what was reasonably to be expected. We were now in longitude 97° 

 37' E., and latitude 64° 01' S. ; our variation was 56° 21' westerly, 

 being again on the decrease. To-day we had several snow-squalls, 

 which, instead of being in flakes, was in small grains, as round as 

 shot, and of various sizes, from that of mustard-seed to buckshot. It 

 was remarkably dry, pure white, and not at all like hail. We found 

 the bay we had entered was fifty or sixty miles in depth, and having 

 run in on its southern side, I determined to return along its northern 

 shore, which we set about with much anxiety, as the weather began 

 to change for the worse. Our situation was by no means such as I 

 should have chosen to encounter bad weather in, the bay being 

 sprinkled with a great many large icebergs. Here we met with a 

 large number of whales, whose curiosity seemed awakened by our 

 presence. Their proximity, however, was any thing but pleasant to 

 us, and their blowings resembled that of a number of locomotives. 



