A SIMPLE STOEY 117 
mountain in the world — we have Seen it at night a hundred 
and fifty miles Distant. 
We shapd. our Coarce a Long the land to the South East 
a Distance of two hundred miles farther. On the 28th we 
discover d. Mount Erebus this splendid Burning Mountain 
Was truly an imposing Sight. 
The height of this mountain Six thousand feet hight 
with a gradual ascent from the Sea Shore. From the Sum- 
mit of this mountain issues Continually Vast Clouds of Smoke 
when Scatterd. about with the wind forms a Cloudy Surface 
of Smoke a long the Surface of the mountain. 
At the west End of Mount Erebus it plainly appears there 
has been a Desperate Eruption from the Craggy appearance 
— it is Sufficient to Convince an accute observer. 
The south side of this Splendid mountain was Lost to our 
view, Land and Ice obstructed the Scene. We did not land 
here nor did we deem it Safe to Land neither ; we could not 
see fire nor matter, the Sun Shone so brilliant on the Ice and 
Snow it completely Dazzled our Eyes. Yet it is my firm belief 
that this must be an imposing sight in the dark of winter. 
As to the Barrier, ' or as I should call it nature's handiwork,' 
what could be more impressive than the artless record of how 
the plain sailors were struck dumb by the wonderful sight, 
and, if we read between the lines, felt that they need not be 
ashamed of their emotion when their experienced Captain 
himself was equally touched ? Thinking from the masthead 
view that they would ' run dov/n ' the barrier by midnight, 
they set sail in the evening. 
But as far and as fast as we run the Barrier apperd. the 
Same Shape and form as it did when we left the mountain. 
We pursued a South Easterly Cource for the distance of 
three hundred miles But the Barrier appeard. the Same as 
when we Left the Land. On the first of Febry. we stood 
away from the Barrier For five or six days and came up to it 
again farther East, on the morning of the eight Do. we found 
our Selves Enclosed in a beautiful bay of the barrier. 
All hands when they Came on Deck to view this the most 
rare and magnificent Sight that Ever the human eye wit- 
nessed Since the world was created actually Stood Motion- 
