Procwdlngi of the Peacock. 



ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



fjirdi on Macijuarlc Inland. 



1»1 



We continued to meet icebergs of different height*, 

 whir* of which, though inclined to the horizon, had 

 a plane upper surface. 



1 Itli. The fair wind from the north -went (accom- 

 panied with ft light mist, rendering objects on the 

 horizon indistinct) still enabled ua to pursue our 

 course southerly. Icebergs became so numerous 

 as to compel ua occasionally to change our course. 

 They continued of the same character, with caverns 

 wi.ru in their perpendicular sides, and with fiat 

 tops, but the latter were now on n line with the 

 horizon. Towards (i p.m., we began to perceive 

 smaller pieces of ice, some of which were ii"t more 

 ilian an eighth of a mile in length, floating as it 

 were in small patches. As the icebergs increased 

 in number, the sea became smoother, and there 

 was no apparent motion. Between fl on J 0 p.m., a 

 low point of ice was perceived nhead, and in a 

 short time we passed within it. There wna now u 

 large bay before us. As the vessels moved rapidly, 

 at 10$ p.m., we had reached its extreme limits, and 

 found our further progress entirely stopped by a 

 compact barrier of ice, enclosing large square ice- 

 bergs. The barrier consisted of masses elusely 

 packed, and of every variety of shape and size. 

 We hoveto until full daylight. The night was 

 beautiful, and every thing seemed tomb in sleep, 

 except the sound of the distant and low rustling of 

 the ice, that now and then met the car. We had now 

 reached the latitude of 04 ' IV S., longitude 104° 

 30' E. t and found our variation twenty-two degrees 

 easterly. One and all felt disappointed, fur we 

 had flattered ourselves that the way was open for 

 further progress to the southward, and had im- 

 bibed the impression (from the extraordinary wea- 

 ther we had had at Sydney, and the reports of 

 icbergs having been seen further to the northward 

 than usual, by all the vessels arriving) that the 

 season would lie an open one. What surprised me 

 most was a change iu the colour of the water to an 

 olive-preen, and some faint appearances resembling 

 distant land ; but as it was twilight, and I did not 

 believe the tiling credible, I put no faith in these 

 indications, although some of the officers were con- 

 fident they were not occasioned by icebergs. The 

 barometer Btood at 29-200 in. ; the temperature of 

 the air 33°, water 32'. We lay-to until four o'clock. 

 Ab it grew light, on the 12th, a fog set in so thick 

 that we lost sight of the Porpoise, and could not 

 hear any answer to our signals. I therefore deter* 

 inineil to work along the barrier to the westward. 



We were all day beating in a thick fog, with the 

 ijarrier of ice close to us, and occasionally in tack- 

 ing brought it under our bow ; at other times we 

 were almost in contact with icebergs. During the 

 whole day we could not see at any time further 

 than a quarter of a mile, and seldom more thau 

 the ship's length. The fog, or rather thick mist, 

 was forming in ice on our rigging. From the 

 novelty of our situation, and the excitement pro- 

 duced by it, we did not think of the danger. 



I shall now leave the Viucennes and Porpoise 

 pursuing their course to the westward with a head 

 wind, and bring the Peacock up to the barrier. 



Previously to parting company on the 3rd of 

 January, the crew of that ship had also been en- 

 gaged in building hurricane-honses, calking, and 

 chintzing, to secure thcin from the wet and cold. 

 After parting company, Captain Hudson imme- 

 diately steered for the first rendezvous, Macquarie 



Inland, and was more fortunate than we were in 

 reaching it, although the Peacock had experienced 

 the same kind of weather that we had, and cur- 

 rents setting to the eastward. 



On approaching the island, they discovered large 

 patches of kelp, and saw numerous procellaria and 

 albatrosses nb<mt the ship. On the 1 0th of January 

 they made the island, and observed a reef of rocks 

 extending three-quarters of a mile off its south 

 end. Passing within a short distance of it, they 

 did not olwerve any of the signals of the squadron 

 flying as they had anticipated. They, notwith- 

 standing, stood in, lowered a boat, and despatched 

 several officers to put up the signal, make ex- 

 periments, and collect specimens. The boat ap- 

 proached an indentation on the west side, too open 

 to bo called a bay, and found that the surf waa 

 running high, and beating with great violence against 

 the rocks, which, together with the kelp, rendered 

 it dangerous to attempt landing. They made for 

 several other places which looked favourable at 

 a distance, but on approaching them, Uiey were 

 found even less accessible. The boat then re- 

 turned to the first place to make another attempt, 

 which was attended with great diifieuliy. The 

 boat's anchor was dropped, and she was backed in 

 with great caution to the edge of the rollers ; the 

 surf was very high, and rolled in with a noise like 

 thunder, breaking furiously upon the rocks, so as 

 to moke the boat fairly tremhle, and threatening 

 every moment to overwhelm her ; once or twice 

 she was prevented from getting broadside-to by 

 hauling out towards her anchor. At length, after 

 a dozen fruitless attempts, and awaiting a favour- 

 able opportunity. Mr. Eld and a quarter- master 

 succeeded in getting ashore, but not without being 

 immersed up to their breasts, it was found im- 

 possible to land any instruments; and (he quarter- 

 master wiut despatched to erect the necessary 

 signals, while Mr. Eld proceeded to visit the pen- 

 goi ii -rookery not far distant. On approaching the 

 inland, it had apjvcarod to be covered with white 

 spots : these excited conjecture; but after landing, 

 the exhalatious rendered it not long doubtful that 

 it was birdlime. 



Mr. Kid, in his journal, gives the following ac- 

 count of his visit : " Although I had heard so 

 often of the great quantity of birds on the un- 

 inhabited islands, 1 was not prepared to see them 

 in Buch myriad* as here. The whole sides of the 

 nigged lulls were literally covered with them. 

 Having passed a deep fissure in (lie rocks, I as- 

 cended a crag that led to what I thought was their 

 principal roost, imd at every step my astonishment 

 increased. Such a din of squeaking, squalling, 

 and gabbling, 1 never before heard or dreamed 

 could be made by any of the feathered tribe. It 

 was impossible to hear one's self speak. It ap- 

 peared as \ e eveiy oue was vying with his neigh- 

 bour to make the" greatest possible noise. 1 soon 

 found my presence particularly displeased them, 

 for they snapped at me in all directions, catching 

 hold of my trousers, shaking and pinching my flesh 

 so violently as to make me flinch and Bland upon 

 the defensive. As we wanted a number of speci- 

 mens, I commenced kicking them down the pre- 

 cipice, and knocked on the head those which had 

 the temerity to attack me. After having collected 

 a number, and a few eggs, I laid them aside, whilst 

 I ascended higher on the hill. I had not left them 

 k 2 



