Antarctic Continent . 
43 
As the parties approached the group of islands and 
denuded rocks, in latitude 72° south, longitude 171° east, 
distant about a mile and a half from the main land, a 
rapid current was found sweeping through the channel 
which divided the islands; it carried with it heavy 
streams of ice, agitating the sea in the most tumultuous 
manner, and presenting a surface similar to that of the 
Portland race in a fresh gale. This rendered the situation 
of the boats far from agreeable : they were carried away 
by the force of the current in spite of the men’s best exer¬ 
tions to resist it; while the inhospitable icy coast threat¬ 
ened destruction, should they dare to touch its rugged 
shore. At this stage of our progress the chiefs of the 
expedition consulted on what was best to be done, and 
determined to run to leeward of the western island. Ere 
we had gone far we were fortunate enough to find an 
opening through the outer stream of ice, which the boats 
immediately took, and were brought into comparatively 
smooth water. We were now able to make some pro¬ 
gress towards the island, winding our way amongst the 
numerous streams as they here and there opened ; and, 
after three hours’ laborious pulling, the boats reached the 
shore at noon. 
The beach was bound by a heavy crust of ice, firmly 
adhering to the land, and presenting rugged and 
bold cliff’s, which, in the heavy swell, rendered landing 
difficult. Captain Ross, however, was the first to throw 
himself from the bows of his boat upon the ice, and 
was soon climbing up the steep in safety; and Cap¬ 
tain Crozier, on reaching the shore, immediately fol¬ 
lowed him, and in a few minutes more both parties 
were landed, and scrambling about with gaping curio¬ 
sity, handling every object which presented itself, eager 
to enrich their collections with stores from a spot never 
before visited. 
