239 
CHARLES WILKES 
distinct as before. At night a magnificent display of the 
aurora australis was seen curtaining the northern horizon. 
On the 1 2th land was seen again to the southwest, and 
again hopes were high that it might be reached, but 
shortly after noon the loose floe ice through which 
the Vincennes was sailing, changed to a solid barrier. 
The position then was 64° 57' S., 112° 16' E., and the 
land was distinctly seen as a lofty snow-covered moun- 
tain range, showing many ridges and indentations. No 
soundings were obtained with 250 fathoms, and the ship 
lay-to for three hours in the hope of finding some opening 
in the barrier through which the land might be reached. 
Some of the icebergs showed dark earthy stains. On 
the 13th high rounded snow-covered land was dis- 
tinctly seen extending from west-southwest to south- 
southeast, when the ship was in 65° 57' S., 106° 40' E. 
It was about twelve miles distant and there was no bottom 
with 300 fathoms. Next day was clear and the land was 
seen from seven to eight miles distant, extending by 
angular measurements for 75 miles, and about 3000 feet 
high. As it was impossible to reach it from the ship, a 
landing was made on one of the biggest ice-islands from 
which a large collection of boulders of basalt and red 
sandstone was made. The largest boulder seen was five 
or six feet in diameter, but it was not secured, being in 
an inaccessible position. Parts of the berg seemed to be 
formed of a sort of conglomerate of rocks cemented 
together by ice of flinty hardness. All hands showed the 
keenest interest in the discovery and all were eagerly 
desirous of possessing themselves of a piece of the Ant- 
arctic Continent. The crew enjoyed themselves in sliding 
on the ice covering a pond of fresh water of over an 
acre in extent on the top of the ice-island, and on break- 
