THE AUROBA AUSTBALIS. 
13 y 
Balleny Islands and Enderby Land ; but this region 
of vast mountains has such a barrier of impenetrable 
ice encircling the Pole that there appears but little 
probability of ever penetrating. The supposed exist- 
ence of this continent was, to a certain extent, 
proved to be erroneous by Sir James 0. Ross’s 
expedition the following year sailing over two of the 
positions assigned to it. For another point of this 
continent (?) we are now shaping a course. 
Feb . 18^. — The coldest weather yet experienced; 
temperature of air down to 23i°« All the forenoon, 
we sail through vast fields of ice, and large numbers 
of bergs are in sight in all directions. Some of these 
great perpendicular masses overtopped our mast- 
heads by many feet. In many places, where there 
happened to be a break, we could see the upper 
surface, which appeared quite smooth, and conveyed 
to the mind the idea of an immense plain of frosted 
silver. Following in our track were great numbers 
of sea-birds — albatrosses, petrels, Cape pigeons, terns, 
night hawks, &c. As the day advanced, we rounded 
the northern extremity of the pack, and stood east, 
intending to run on this course for about 250 miles. 
During the evening a beautiful view was had of the 
Aurora Australis extending across the zenith, of a 
bright yellow colour, its edges tinged with purple, 
exhibiting at times vivid flashes of a bright pink 
colour. A strong light appeared behind the dark 
cloud, and afterwards pink yellow, and green 
