ch. lvii] The Societies" Expedition 
457 
nation and survey, with soundings, of the barrier ice-cliffs. 
Sir James Ross, with sailing ships and with bad weather, 
was unable to do this thoroughly. The work was done 
with great care, the height of the cliffs, which attained 
280 ft. in the highest part, was measured at intervals, 
photographs were taken, and frequent soundings, the 
depth varying from 350 to 400 fathoms. It was found 
that their course throughout had been south of the position 
of the barrier in Ross's time, and that they had sailed 
continuously over sea which in his day had been covered 
with a solid ice sheet. On January 29th they were east- 
ward of the extreme position reached by Sir James in 1842. 
Passing a deep bay in the barrier Scott pushed still further 
to the eastward ; and on the 30th new land was sighted. 
Soundings varied from 88 to 265 fathoms. Most of the 
surrounding icebergs were aground, young ice was formed, 
and Scott resolved to shape a westward course on February 
1st. The coast-line was now clearly seen for many miles, 
with sharp peaks rising to 2000 and 3000 feet, the bare 
rock appearing in a few places. The new discovery was 
a country of considerable altitude and extent, and of 
great importance as fixing the limit of the great ice barrier. 
Captain Scott then steered for the inlet he had seen 
when standing to the east, and found that the ice cliffs 
were only 20 feet high, and in one place not higher than 
the ship's bulwarks. Here he anchored and made fast. 
There were great numbers of seals on the sea-ice. Armitage 
and Bernacchi, with a light sledge equipment, marched 
up the ice valley to the south. 
On February 4th preparations were commenced for a 
balloon ascent, in one of the army captive balloons for 
lifting a single observer. Scott himself ascended to 800 
feet, from which height the nature of the barrier surface 
could be well seen as a series of long undulations running- 
east and west, each wave occupying a space of two or 
three miles. Shackleton made the next ascent with a 
camera, and took some photographs, and in the evening 
Armitage returned, after having crossed and examined 
several of the undulations. At this place a quantity of 
seal meat was obtained. 
The Discovery was then taken under sail along the 
barrier cliffs and was in M'Murdo Sound again on 
