ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



ward, the brig under close-reefed topsails ; at 2 p. m. found it difficult 

 and hazardous to proceed, passing within a short distance of ice- 

 islands, and just seeing them dimly through the obscurity; at three, 

 the brig was hove-to, and Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold says, in 

 reference to their situation — 



" I felt great anxiety to proceed, but the course was so perilous, the 

 extent and trend of the barrier so uncertain, I could not reconcile it 

 with prudence to advance. The frequent falling in with fields of 

 drift-ice, the numerous and often closely-grouped chains of icebergs, 

 were sufficient to point out discretion. The long-extended barrier 

 was encountered in latitude 65° 08' S. ; at twelve to-day our position 

 was 65° 16' S. ; it is easy to perceive the possibility of a trend 

 northerly again, which would have placed us in a large and dangerous 

 gulf, with a heavy gale blowing directly on, without a hope of escape. 



" At 8 p. m., blowing very heavy ; the snow falling rendered vision 

 beyond a few yards impossible ; I have seldom experienced a heavier 

 blow, and towards the conclusion the squalls were severe and frequent." 



The barometer at 3 a. m., stood at 28-200 in., the lowest point it 

 reached during the gale. The temperature of the air was 26°. 



The severe gale continued during the 29th, with a heavy sea, and 

 snow falling thickly ; at 8 a. m. the gale abated, and the clouds broke 

 away; through the day the sun occasionally out; the weather ap- 

 peared unsettled ; the sun set red and fiery ; the latitude was observed 

 64° 46' S., longitude 137° 16' E. 



On the 30th they stood again to the southwest ; at 2 a. m. they made 

 the barrier of field-ice, extending from southeast to west, when it 

 became necessary to haul more to the northwest ; the weather be- 

 coming thick with a heavy fall of snow, at four o'clock, the wind 

 increasing, compelled them to shorten sail ; at 7 h 30 ra the ice in fields 

 was discovered close aboard, heading west ; at this time hauled imme- 

 diately on a wind to the northeast, and soon passed out of sight of the 

 ice and out of danger ; during the day blowing a gale of wind, and 

 very heavy sea running, passing occasional ice-islands ; at meridian, 

 being clear of the barrier, the brig was hove-to under storm-sails, to 

 await the clearing of the weather. In the afternoon the weather 

 showed signs of clearing ; the sun coming out, again made sail to 

 approach the barrier ; no ice in sight ; great numbers of black petrels 

 about. 



At 4 p. m. discovered a ship ahead, and shortly after another was 

 made, both standing to the northward ; the brig hauled up to the north- 

 west, intending to cut them off and speak them, supposing them to be 

 the Vincennes and the Peacock ; shortly afterwards they were seen to 



