ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 347 



at 15° of altitude, extending from northwest to northeast; the stars 

 were partially obscured in the direction of the clouds ; the pale flashes 

 or coruscations vanishing very suddenly, were succeeded by spiral 

 columns or streamers, converging with great velocity towards the 

 zenith ; brilliant flashes would again issue forth from the remote parts 

 of the cloud, succeeded in quick succession by perpendicular rays 

 emanating from the cloud, having the shape of a rounded column or 

 basaltic-shaped cylinder, which in contrast with the dark cloud showed 

 in broad relief. As the cloud seemed to rise, the scene became a most 

 interesting one, from the varied and oft-changing coruscations : finally 

 the arc assumed a contracted and elliptical form, vivid streamers 

 bursting forth as if from a corona, converging all towards the zenith, 

 until they were lost in the coming day. The magnetic needle did not 

 show any disturbance. The barometer stood stationary during its 

 continuance. The sympiesometer indicated a slight fall. At the time 

 there was no wind ; the stars were brilliant, and all visible. 



6th. During this day they had light winds ; pursued their course to 

 the westward ; wind from the southward. In the afternoon they had 

 light flurries of snow, and at times hail ; the sea perfectly smooth, and 

 few icebergs in sight. Longitude 125° 32' E., latitude 63° 34' S. 



During the 7th, the winds variable ; at eight tacked to the southward, 

 in order to close in with the barrier ; the wind again hauling, tacked ; 

 the number of icebergs increasing ; all those seen for the few days 

 past have appeared variously shaped, much worn and fractured, 

 some evidently overturned, and immense arches or caves washed in 

 them; they were totally distinct from those seen to-day. 



8th. A brisk breeze from the southward, which carried them on 

 rapidly to the westward. At meridian, discovered compact fields of 

 ice, with many stupendous ice-islands enclosed within it; the ice 

 appeared more broken than any hitherto seen, with many fragments 

 of icebergs resembling spires and broken columns. Altered their 

 course to clear the barrier, and by two o'clock they had extricated 

 themselves. Penguins, whales, brown pigeons, and the black alba- 

 tross, were seen near the barrier. In the afternoon the snow fell in 

 beautiful shining spicule, resembling stars, usually of six, but some- 

 times of twelve points : they varied from one-eighth to one-sixteenth of 

 an inch in diameter. 



The barrier was occasionally seen, and the ice-islands began again 

 to assume a tabular form ; towards the close of the day, very many 

 whales, penguins, &c, seen. Longitude 116° E., latitude 64° 01' S. 



On the 9th, fresh breezes from the southeast; at 10 a. m. made the 

 barrier again, the weather being favourable ; at 4 p. m. standing along 



