800 MR D. FERGUSON ON 



influence as the Gulf Stream. The more open character of the scenery and the less 

 rigorous character of the climate on the north-west and south-east coasts of South 

 Georgia, in contrast to the coasts exposed to the polar influences, must be attributed 

 to the winds from the north-west, north, or north-east. 



The line of permanent snow on the coast facing the north-east is at not less than 

 2000 feet above sea-level. Even here, however, ice-fields and glaciers extend down 

 to sea-level ; but these are due to ice formed above the line of perpetual snow, 

 pushing its way down to sea-level. 



Coronda Peak, overlooking Leith Harbour to the north-west, is 1400 feet above 

 sea-level ; Spencer Peak, in Cumberland Bay, 1700 feet above sea-level ; and the peak 

 above Moltke Harbour, Royal Bay, 2297 feet above sea-level, are clear of snow in 

 summer. The hollows in each of the ranges from which these peaks rise have 

 permanent ice in them, and streams of water run from the melting edge. The 

 existence of the streams is due to small cirque-like hollows, into which the sun's 

 rays penetrate sufficiently to keep them active. 



South Georgia is a mere rock fragment rising out of the South Atlantic. It has 

 a rigorous climate, which is not, however, detrimental to men of ordinary sound 

 physique. The ice-fields and glaciers cannot fail to keep down the average tem- 

 perature, but they furnish the island with copious supplies of the purest water. 



The island as a whole is a lenticular rocky mass, with Mount Paget as its central 

 altitude, from which it slopes down into the sea to the north-west and to the south- 

 east. Its greatest width, across Mount Paget, is a distance of about 30 miles. The 

 axis of the island and also the general strike of its rock-bodies is also the axis of 

 the central range of the Allardyce Mountains. 



Previous Geological Literature. 



Captain Cook called the island Georgia in honour of King George III. He sailed 

 down the north-eastern coast from Willis Island to Cooper Island, at the south-east 

 extremity. We owe to this explorer the names of many of the promontories and 

 bays, first discovered by him, and now familiar to navigators in the South Atlantic. 

 Possession Bay was named by Captain Cook on account of his landing there and 

 taking possession of the island in the name of King George III. He refers to rocky 

 islets and rocky hillocks but does not give any details of geological structure. 



He makes the interesting statement that he did not find a stream of fresh water 

 on the whole coast, and that only along the escarpments of the north-eastern coast 

 is there warmth enough to melt the snow. In recent years the whaling industry 

 has obtained ample supplies of the purest fresh water, flowing from the base of the 

 glaciers, on the north-eastern coast. 



Captain James Weddell* also visited the island, and described it as so deeply 



* James Weddell, A Voyage towards the South Pole, pp. 50-54. 



