Introductory. 3 
mountainous land covered with snow.” In 1819 
William Smith, in the brig WiUiam, discovered the 
archipelago of the South Shetlands, south of Cape 
Horn Та 1820-23 Weddell visited the South 
Shetlands, including the active volcano Bridgman. 
Powell, the discoverer of the South Orkneys, visited 
the volcanic island of Bridgman in 1822, and found it 
to be at that time 200 ft. high. Weddell, who visited 
it in the following year, estimates its height at доо ft. 
Weddell penetrated to 74° S. in 1823, thus attaining a 
higher latitude than Captain Cook, but he saw no land 
anywhere in that neighbourhood. In 1831 Biscoe, in 
Pie brig 77/2, discovered Enderby Land. In 1839 
Balleny discovered Balleny Islands, a volcano 
Eco tt high In 1839 the important French 
IEE5edion under Dumont D’Urville explored the 
South Shetlands. In 1840 Commander Wilkes, in 
the U.S.A. corvette Vincennes, discovered Wilkes 
Land. 
I I ir James Clark Ross made his 
memorable discovery of South Victoria Land. With 
the object of trying to find the South Magnetic Pole, 
as he had already found the North Magnetic Pole, he 
forced his well-fortified ships through the pack-ice 
geen he encountered in lat about 67? S. and 
fone, 1744 E. He forced his way through it, and 
entered comparatively open water beyond, a great 
ocean pool about 600 miles in diameter. Bounding 
this on the west was the magnificent chain of snow- 
clad volcanoes of Victoria Land. Ross traced the 
coast for 500 miles southwards, where he encountered 
the great ice barrier, terminating seawards in a 
sheer wall of ice from 180 ft. to 200 ft. high. 
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