360 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



to burst forth in repetitions, until lost in daylight. On the 19th, the 

 aurora again appeared in an arch of 15° altitude. 



They passed the last icebergs in latitude 55° 30' S., longitude 145° 

 30' E. 



On the 22d they spoke a French whaler from Hobart Town, who 

 expressed much surprise at finding so small a vessel in such high 

 latitudes. The captain sent a boat on board, and invited them to 

 " soup" with him. 



On the 23d they made the southern island of New Zealand. On 

 the 1st of March they experienced a most violent gale. The wind, 

 about noon on the 29th of February, hauled to the southward and 

 eastward, and by midnight it blew a gale, hauling to the eastward, 

 until about 8 p. m., when its violence moderated. Their latitude was 

 40° S., longitude 178° 30' E. For several days previous to this, a 

 noise was heard about the heel of the main-mast; an examination 

 was had, and the conclusion arrived at that it worked in the step, the 

 wedges in the partners having been driven without obviating it. On 

 the 9th of March they arrived at the Bay of Islands, where they found 

 the gentlemen who had gone there to pursue their researches in natural 

 history waiting our arrival. 



" ": " 



AURORA AUSTRALi; 



