The native American., 1840-07-25

been subjected; that a continuance OF these
hardsiips, even for very short period, VIII
entirely disqualfy a great number OF men
for their duty, and that the necessary atten-
ton to the health of the crew and their future
efficiency and usefulness demand the lmme-
dlate return of the ship to a mlder climate"
Deeming it my duty, however. to perseveIe,
decided to continue. and steered again Tor
the land, which we had named the Antarctic
Continent.
We reached it on the I'd of February, about
|6O miles to the westward Of the point first
visited, where we found the coast lined with
solid perpendicular ice cliffs, preventing the
possibility of landing, and the same noun
tains trendng to the westward. From tf ence
we proceeded to the westward along the ice
barrier which appeared to make fromthe land,
until the Sd, when we again encountered
severe gale from the S. f. with thick weather
cleared up sufficiently to allow us'to see our
way clear, and we again approached the per-
pendicular barrier Office, similar to that which
we had previously seen as attached to the
land the same land being in sight at great
distance. We stood along the barrier about
70 miles to the westward, when it suddenly
trended to the southwark and our further
progress south was arrested by solld barrier
of field ice. After all unsuccessful examna-
ton for "a hours in all directions, we contn-
ued to the westward along the barrier, as
usual surrounded by ice islands.
| On the 9Th and 10th (being on the Sth in
longitude l27 deg min. F., latitude 65 deg.
3 min. S. we had similar appearances of dis
liant mountains, but the compact barrier ex-
tending from east to west by south prevented
ii nearer approach.
On the night of the 9th February, being
the first clear night for some time, we witness
ed the aurora australls. ...... ..
We continued, on the 10th and lth, west
ward, with southeast winds and fine weather.
close along the barrier, which was more COM
pact. with immense islands of ice EN- closed
within the field ice.
| On 18th we again saw the distant noun
tains, but were unable to effect nearer ap-
proach, being in longitude 1l2 deg. l6 min.
E. latitude 81 deg. 81 min. S. and was again
compelled to 90 on to the westward.
The ice barrier trending more to the south
ward, induced me to hope that we should
again succeed in approaching nearer the sup
posed line of coast. On the 18th, at noon,
we had reached longitude 10Y deg. As min.
latitude 65 deg. II min. S. with a toerablv
clear sea before us, and the land plainly in
sight. continued pushing through the ice
until we were stopped by the fixed barrier
about fifteen miles from the Shore and with
! little or no prospect of efecting landing.
! l hauled off for the short night and the
next morning made another attempt at diff
ferent point, but was equally unsuccessful,
being able to approach only three or four miles
nearer, as it appeared perfectly impenetrable.
Near us We're several icebergs, covered and
stained with earth, on one of which we Ian
'ded, and obtained numerous specimens of
sandstone, quartz, conglomerate and sand,
some weighing hundred pounds. This, I
am we'll satisfied gave lis more specimens
!, than we could have obtained from the land
Itself as we should no doubt have found it
covered with ice and snow one hundred or
more feet in thickness We obtained sup
ply of fresh water from pond IN the centre
of the same island. Our position was longi-
tude LOG deg. 40 min E. latitude IS deg. 81
min S. aud upwards of 70 miles of coast in
sight, trending the same as that we had pre-
viousy seen.
! Although had now reached the position
where our examinations were to terminate hv
my llS'TuCllOuS W Vic Sq quduIOil:l COHCIlueu
to proceed to the westward along the barrier,
which continued to be much dscoIored by
earth and specimens of rock &c. were OBJ
tained from an Ice island. A sea leopard was
seen on the ice but the boats did not succeed
In taking him.
On the 18th February, in longitude 81 deg.
80 min f. latitude "a deg, S. land was again
seen at great distance to the southwest We
now found ourselves closely embayed, and un-
able to proceed in a westerly direction the
ice barrier trending around to the north
ward and eastward, compelled lis to retrace
our steps. We had entered deep gulf on its
southern side, and it required four days beat
ing along its northern shore to get out of it.
During this time our position was critical the
weather changeable and little room in case of
bad weather. 1t fortunately h Id up until
we found ourselves again in Il clear sea to the
northward.
The ice barrier had now trended to about
62 degrees oflatitude the wind having set in
from the westward with dark weather, and
~ 81