! 



Landing pflVeUil on nn ice-islaad. ,\ NTARl'Til ' CRUISE. IK- Miii of 0,n < rcw rv-rstahlUhed 145 



that Punt discovered, awl had the appearance nf 

 being bound by perpendicular icy cliffs. 



J 4th, At daylight ue again made nail for the land, 

 beating in for it until 11 a.m., when He found any 

 further progress quite impossible. I then judged 

 thai if was seven or eight miles distant. The day 

 was remarkably clear, and the land very distinct. 

 Hy measurement, ho made the extent of coast of 

 the Antarctic Continent, which was then in sight, 

 seventy-five miles, and hy approximate measure- 

 ment, three thousand feet high. It was entirely 

 covered with snow. Longitude at noon, I0b"° 18* 4'2" 

 E., latitude bo 3 59' -40" S., variation 57 u fi' wes- 

 lerly. < iii running in, wo had passed several ice- 

 bergs greatly discoloured with earth, and finding 

 we could not approach the shore any nearer, 1 

 determined to land on the largest icedslund that 

 neemcd accessible, to mako dip, intensity, and 

 variation observations, (in coming up with it, 

 about one and a half mile from where the barrier 

 had stopped us, I hove the ship to, lowered the 

 huats, mid fortunately effected a lauding. We 

 found embedded in it, in places, boulders, stones, 

 gravel, sand, and mud or clay. The larger speci- 

 mens were i>f red sandstone and basalt. No signs 

 of stratification were to be hccii in it, but it was in 

 |ilaei-< formed of icy conglomerate (if I may use 

 the expression), composed of large pieces of rocks, 

 at- it were frozen togcther.nnd the ire w as extremely 

 hard and flint like. The largt fit boulder embedded 

 in it was about five or six feet in diameter, but 

 being situated under the ehelf of the iceberg, we 

 were not able to get at it. Many specimens were 

 obtained, and it was amusing to see the eagerness 

 and desiro of all hands to possess themselves of a 

 piece of the Antarctic Continent. These pieces 

 were ill great demand during the remainder of 

 the cruise. In tho centre of this iceberg was 

 found a pond of most delicious water, over which 

 was a scum of ice about ten iuches thick. We 

 obtained from it about live hundred gallons. We 

 remained upon this iceberg several hours, and the 

 men unused themselves to their hearts' content in 

 sliding. The p,.nd wui three feet deep, extending 

 over an area of an acre, and contained sufficient 

 water for half-n-dn/.- n ship*, The temperature of 

 tho water was 31". This island had been un- 

 doubtedly turned partly over, and had precisely 

 the same appearance that the icy barrier would 

 have exhibited if it had been turned Lottoni up 

 and subsequently much worn by storms. There 

 was no doubt that it had been detached from the 

 laud, which was about eight miles distant. 



Around the iceberg we found many species of 

 zoophytes, viz. sal pee, a beautiful specimen of 

 etio hclicina, some large pelagie, and many small 

 crusiacca. I made several drawings of thoiu. This 

 day, notwithstanding our disappointment in being 

 still repelled from trending oti the new continent, 

 was spent with much gratification, and gave us 

 many new specimens from it. 



Finding that wo had reached the longitude of 

 105° E., before the time anticipated, and being 

 desirous to pursue the discoveries further west, I 

 left a signal Hying on this berg, with, a bottle 

 containing instructions Tor the other vessels, 

 directing them to proceed to the westward as 

 far as they could, in the time which should 

 remain prior to the 1st of March. At 0 v.m. we 

 joined the ship, and bore away again to the west- 



ward, iitti mling pursue the route pointed out to 

 them. 



On the 16th we passed many icebergs much 

 discoloured with earth, stones, Ac, none of which 

 appeared of recent formation. The weather this 

 day became lowering, and the breeze fresh ; we 

 double-reefed the topsails, and made every tiling 

 snug : tho wind was from the south ward. At noon 

 I bin day we were in longitude 1 0-1 E., latitude 

 <i'i 0 G'S. The sea had been remarkably smooth 

 tho last few days, with no swell; and I began to 

 entertain the idea that we mi^ht have a large body 

 of ice to tho northward of us; for the position 

 where Cook fonnd the barrier in 17"^ was two 

 hundred miles further to the north. 1 determined, 

 however, to pjiss on in our explorations, hoping 

 they might enable me to join that of Endcrby's 

 Land. J deemed it a great object actually to 

 prove the continuity v\i:h it if possible; and ii dis- 

 appointed in this, 1 should at any rate ascertain 

 whether there had been any change iu tin; ice in 

 this quarter, since the time id Cook, which had 

 been done already near his No Plus Ultra, 



We had a vast number of whales about us this 

 day, as well as penguin-, Cape j i-.-.ns, white ami 

 gray, and small and large petrels. Some seals also 

 were seen. 



I was now happy to find the health of my crew 

 had become re-established, and that only a few 

 remained on the sick-list. This, 1 think was 

 effected by constant attention to their being warmly 



clothed. 



The icebergs were covered with penguins. Se- 

 veral officers landed on the icebergs to get a few 

 as specimens. Un their return, some penguins fed- 

 lowed them closely, particularly ono, who at last 

 leaped into the boat. It wjw supposed that its 

 male had been among those taken, and that it had 

 followed on that account. If this were the fad, 

 it would show a remarkable instinctive affection in 

 this bird. 



On the JGlh, the barrier of ice trended to the 

 northward, and we were obliged to haul to the 

 north-east, passing through a large number of ice- 

 islands, many of which Here stained with earth. 

 In the afternoon a largo sea-elephant was dis- 

 covered on the ice; two boats were sent to effect 

 his capture, and many balls were tired into him, 

 but he showed the utmost indifference to their 

 effect, doing no more than to raise his head at each 

 shot. He contrived to escape by floundering over 

 the iec until he reached the water, in which he 

 was cjuite a different being. At about 7 p.m., Dr. 

 Fox was despatched in a boat to visit an ice-island 

 that was v.ry much discoloured with clay in 

 patches. He re|>orted that there was upon it A 

 largo pond of muddy water, not frozen, although 

 the temperature on board was much below the 

 freezing point. We observed around tho icebergs 

 numerous right whales, pulling in all directions. 

 A large quantity of small erustacea, including 

 shrimps, we»e hero seen around the icebergs. 

 These are believed to be the cause that attract* 

 whales to these parts; they also supply the nume- 

 rous penguins with Lheir food. For several days 

 1 observed a great dilferenee in the wind, by day 

 and by night. It had been fresh from the hour of 

 seven iu the morning until fi p.m., when it generally 

 becomes light or dies away altogether. To-day we 

 found ourselves in longitude Ifi) E., and latitude 



h 



