334 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



Supposing the average fall of snow in these high latitudes to be an inch 

 a day, or thirty feet a year, the largest icebergs would take more than 

 thirty years to form. They were seen by us in all the stages of their 

 growth, and all bore unequivocal marks of the same origin. The dis- 

 tance from the land at which they were forming, fully satisfied me that 

 their fresh water could only be derived from the snows, &c. 



The movement of the ice along the coast is entirely to the west- 

 ward, and all the large ranges of ice-islands and bergs were found in 

 that direction, while the eastern portion was comparatively free from 

 it. A difference was found in the position of the floe-ice by the 

 different vessels, caused rather by the wind than by the tide. When 

 the Vincennes and Porpoise passed the opening by which the Peacock 

 entered, it was found closed, although only twenty-four hours had 

 elapsed. It has been seen that the ice had much movement during the 

 time the Peacock was beset by it, and the bay was all but closed when 

 she effected her escape. Another instance occurred, where the Por- 

 poise, in about the longitude of 130° E., found the impracticable 

 barrier a few miles further south than the Vincennes did six or seven 

 days after ; but this fact is not to be received as warranting any 

 general conclusion, on account of the occurrence of southeast gales 

 during the intermediate time. The trials for currents have, for the 

 most part, shown none to exist. The Porpoise, it is true, experienced 

 some, but these were generally after a gale. If currents do exist, their 

 tendency is westward, which I think the drift of the ice would clearly 

 prove. The difference between the astronomic positions and those 

 given by dead-reckoning, was of no avail here as a test,* for the 

 courses of the vessels among the ice were so tortuous, that the latter 

 could not be depended upon. 



The winds which prevail from the southwest to the southeast occa- 

 sionally bring clear weather, interrupted by flurries of snow ; the north 

 wind is light, and brings thick fogs, attended by a rise of temperature. 

 Extremes of weather are experienced in rapid succession, and it is 

 truly a fickle climate. 



The evidence that an extensive continent lies within the icy barrier, 

 must have appeared in the account of my proceedings, but will be, I 

 think, more forcibly exhibited by a comparison with the aspect of other 

 lands in the same southern parallel. Palmer's Land, for instance, 

 which is in like manner invested with ice, is so at certain seasons of 



* The fact of there being no northerly current along this extended line of coast, is a 

 strong proof in my mind of its being a continent, instead of a range of islands. 



