AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE IEAEIETS 



JOHN BALLENY, 1838-1839 



Eliza Scott and Sabrina 



[The course is indicated by a brown line.] 



In 1838, the Enderbys (who, as before stated, had made 

 it possible for Biscoe to circumnavigate the Antarctic), in 

 conjunction with other London merchants, sent two vessels 

 under John Balleny into the Antarctic, with instructions to 

 push as far to the south as possible. Balleny entered from 

 New Zealand, near the meridian of 180° and crossed 

 Bellingshausen's track. Entering what was later known as 

 Ross Sea, he discovered in 1839 the group of small volcanic 

 islands which bears his name. This was the first land found 

 within the Antarctic Circle south of New Zealand, and its 

 discovery was the first step toward the final discovery of 

 Victoria Land. Balleny left the area of this map at ioo° 

 E., failing, however, to discover the land which we now 

 know was just south of his course. Members of this expe- 

 dition, on returning, reached London in time to meet Ross 

 before the departure of the Erebus and Terror. 



CHARLES WILKES, 1839-1840 

 Vincenncs, Peacock and Porpoise 

 [The course is indicated by a red line.] . 



In February, 1839, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, at the 

 head of the United States Exploring Expedition, with a 

 squadron of six vessels poorly equipped and poorly adapted 

 to polar work, entered the South Polar regions from Tierra 

 del Fuego. 



He first made an effort to explore land to the south of 

 the South Shetlands, in the neighborhood of 6o° W., and 

 then in the neighborhood of Cook's farthest south, 105" 

 \V. These efforts were unsuccessful. Four of the vessels 

 then proceeded to Sydney, Australia, whence two under 



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