ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 337 



other islands are in great part composed of a compact blue flinty ice. 

 This difference is occasioned by the latter becoming saturated with 

 water, which afterwards freezes. 



On the ice there was usually a covering of about two feet of snow, 

 which in places had upon it a crust of ice not strong enough to bear 

 the weight of a man. Those ice-islands, which after having been 

 once seen were again passed through immediately after a gale, were 

 observed to be changed in appearance ; but though for forty-eight 

 hours a severe storm had been experienced, they had not undergone so 

 great a transformation as not to be recognised. They also appeared 

 to have shifted their position with regard to one another, their former 

 bias and trendings being broken up. 



During our stay on the icy coast, I saw nothing of what is termed 

 pack-ice, — that is, pieces forced one upon the other by the action of 

 the sea or currents. 



On the 21st, the weather became unsettled, with light westerly winds, 

 and we made but little progress to the westward. The barrier, at 6 

 p. m., was seen trending to the westward. In consequence of indica- 

 tions that threatened bad weather, I deemed it useless risk to remain in 

 the proximity of so many ice-islands ; and a strong breeze, with squally 

 weather, having already set in, I took advantage of it, feeling satisfied 

 that our farther continuance in this icy region would not only be 

 attended with peril to the ship, but would cause a waste of the time 

 which was demanded by my other duties ; and having nearly three 

 thousand miles to sail to our next port (Bay of Islands), I made up my 

 mind to turn the head of the vessel northward. 



I therefore had the officers and crew called aft, thanked them all 

 for their exertions and good conduct during the trying scenes they had 

 gone through, congratulated them on the success that had attended 

 us, and informed them that I had determined to bear up and return 

 north. 



Having only twenty-five days' full allowance of water, I ordered its 

 issue to be reduced to half allowance. 



I have seldom seen so many happy faces, or such rejoicings, as the 

 announcement of my intention to return produced. But although the 

 crew were delighted at the termination of this dangerous cruise, not a 

 word of impatience or discontent had been heard during its continu- 

 ance. Neither had there been occasion for punishment ; and I could 

 not but be thankful to have been enabled to conduct the ship through 

 so difficult, and dangerous a navigation without a single accident, with 

 a crew in as good, if not in a better condition than when w T e first 



VOL. II. 2D 43 



