Antarctic Continent . 
49 
By 6 P.M. the ships were abreast of the land, which 
proved an island, distant, as we then supposed, about 
two or three miles* The coast at this time had a very 
interesting appearance ; for various strata were visible 
upon its face, and far off to the S.E. a heavy pile of land 
promised a new field of interest. 
When about a mile off, as was supposed, Captain Ross 
made the signal to land; and, as the circumstance was 
anticipated, Captain Crozier and a few of his officers soon 
obeyed it. The boat from the Erebus preceded,—and 
here, as usual, the deception in distance was remarkable ; 
for after we had been pulling nearly an hour, we were 
still some distance off from the land, and the cliffs, which 
at starting appeared about 80 or 100 feet above the sea, 
were now found to be upwards of 300 feet, and for the 
most part vertical, with a heavy sea rolling high over 
the under cliffs into caves and seaworn crevices. 
Our approach was from the north, and the land 
running E. and W., we had a view of its whole extent, 
which showed various layers of rocks, whose dips were 
pretty regular, at about 25°, excepting towards the 
western half of the land, where the strata were more 
horizontal. This at first appeared a peculiar feature; 
until, pulling more easterly, a trap dyke of considerable 
breadth was observed to divide the strata of the island. 
The accompanying sketch may assist this imperfect de¬ 
scription. 
The boats had pulled two-thirds round the island be¬ 
fore any place was found on which a landing could be 
effected ; and the first which inspired any gleam of hope 
was a small sandy beach, under high cliffs, on the S.E. 
quarter. 
Here the boats pulled up, and Captain Ross, thinking 
the place was practicable, stepped into the Terror s boat, 
which being a whale-boat was better adapted for beach- 
VOL, II. NO. VI. E 
