191 1] THE LAST OF THE LAND 363 
size, but when this was discovered the weather brightened 
and a cliffy coast-line was seen to the S.W. Following 
the pack along towards the land, it was soon seen that 
there was clear water inside the pack. This water ex- 
tended, apparently, up to the land, and at one place the 
line of pack was not more than a mile broad. After 
sounding in 154 fathoms the ship was worked into the 
pack with high hopes of finding another place like 
Robertson Bay, which is often clear of pack, though the 
entrance is usually more or less guarded by it. 
At 5 P.M., after an hour's struggle, the attempt was 
seen to be hopeless, the ship was only a third way through, 
and the pack grew heavier as she advanced. A light 
wind had sprung up and this had closed the pack, so that 
the ship was caught and unable to move at all. This was 
very disappointing and the position was not free from 
anxiety as, undoubtedly, there is a fair tidal stream in 
these waters, and grounded icebergs do not make pleasant 
neighbours in such circumstances. 
As the sun got low the day improved, the clouds 
broke, and in the sunshine we had a good view of the 
land, though the upper parts of it were always shrouded 
in cloud. The ship appeared to be off a point (or angle) 
in the coast, apparently forming the western end of a 
large bay to the east of us. The coast was steep and 
rugged, half-bare rocky points separated by glaciers being 
the chief features. The hills behind did not appear to 
be very high, but this is only guess-work, as the higher 
land was obscured in clouds all the time and only occasion- 
ally a glimpse could be got when the clouds partially 
