BELLINGSHAUSEN 
1 2 1 
1 6th, is described with a warmth of feeling that helps 
one to realise the previous toil and anxiety. An easterly 
course was held until the 22nd to the south of Cook’s 
homeward track, and then the pack became less close 
and a slight swell running from the south betokened an 
open sea in that direction. 
The parallel of 6o° was crossed in 8° W., and the wind 
shifting made it possible to turn southward round the edge 
of the pack. No other ship had ever entered this region, 
and Bellingshausen hoped to discover land or at least to 
make a high latitude. He crossed the Antarctic circle on 
January 26th, in 3 0 W. and next day reached 69° 21' on 
the same meridian. Close ice now barred the way ; three 
days were spent in working round a small projection 
of it and on January 30th there seemed at last to 
be a clear lead to the south, little ice being in sight and 
whales blowing all round. The ships were thickly 
covered with soft snow and the temperature of the air 
had fallen below 30 0 F. O11 February 1st all progress 
was barred by the ice in 69° 25' S. and i° 11' W. A 
northeasterly course brought them north of the circle 
again on the 5th, and the eastward course was resumed 
as far south as the ice permitted and about five degrees 
to the south of Cook’s outward route on his vain search 
for Bouvet Island. It was soon possible to turn south- 
ward and Bellingshausen crossed the circle southward 
for the second time on February 14th in 18 0 E., reaching 
69° 6' S. on the 16th. The air-temperature had fallen to 
23 0 F. and the sea was full of pack-ice while snow and fog 
alternated with heavy gales. It was impossible to go 
farther and a northeasterly course had to be shaped which 
carried the vessels beyond the circle on the 19th, in 21 0 E. 
a point due south of the Cape of Good Hope. 
