The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-08

So deg There were no trees. Vegetation was
very scant, chiefly consisting of moss, but sea
fowl were abundant. as were also seals and
sea elephants. Our Swatara scientific party, who
will be competed to spend at least six months on
the island, are not likely to have the most pleas
ant time Of it on this bleak desert rock. In the
vicinity there are about thousand small islands
not laid down on the charts.
The first ice was sighted from the Challenger on
the 18th February latitude 81 deg. longitude 80
deg. east, where soundings were obtained in 1000
iathoms An iceberg was seen 2l7 feet high close
by. During the next few days they sailed through
loose ice, surrounded by numerous icebergs, which
were fiat topped. On the 14th OF February they
were stopped by the pack ice in latitude IS deg.
AZ min., longitude 70 deg. 40 min. east. Following
the line OF this pack tee they finally crossed the
Antartic Circle on the 10th OF February,
In longitude IS deg. east Beyond the
AntartiG Circle they penetrated only a
few miles, reaching within 1400 miles Of the South
Pole and 100 miles to the southwark OF Wilkes
Termination Land, though some 400 miles to the
westward of 1t, and at least twice that far
to the southwark OF the position assigned by Cook
to his famous fmpenetrable Ice barrier OF 1773.
They saw great deal OF ice and eighty-seven
icebergs were IN view at one time. Sounding, they
obtained 1,675 fathoms or nearly two miles. There
was no appearance OF glaciers from which icebergs
are necessarily formed, and therefore there could
be no land within reach OF vision, as glaciers are
always OF mountain origin The temperature Of
the air was 20 deg with good deal or snow; the
temperature OF the water was ~ deg. They were
surrounded not only by cebergs. but dozens OF
whales were spouting about them all the time.
They also saw shoals OF grampuses. The sea was
perfectly open to navigation to the southwest on
the 10th Of February, with nothing seriously TO
impede navigation. After the 10th they stood to
the eastward and, recrossing the Antarctic Circle
on the Sd Of February, were IN latitude "a deg 10
min., longitude % deg. Al min. east, about $50
miles south Of Cooks ice barrier and on the very
spot OF Wilkes Termination Land. here they OBJ
tanned soundngs in 1900 fathoms, or nearly mile
and q half. The sky was clear, and no land was 10
be seen. Eighty Weight icebergs were counted at
one time. While floating thus upon the site Of the
most conspicuous part OF Wilkes Antarctic CONT
nens they threw overheard their dredge TO
ascertain II they could haul mp any
part Of 1t, as it had certainly
gone down something like mile and half be-
meath the waves II it had indeed ever risen above
them. Their further progress to the eastward was
arrested by heavy pack tee and q gale springing
up accompanied by thick weather, they were
driven northward, and passing their last iceberg
in latitude SO deg, finally reached Melbourne,
hustIhin, uieSi ~ soyhkE rum Tug Sdpo Vi uUOub
5000 miles, on the 18th OF March, being just three
months on this very remarkable passage. They
had many narrow escapes from the icebergs. AL
together, their experience among the Ice must be
regarded as most remarkable, being, as they were,
nfteen days within the region regarded by Cook as
impenetrable in consequence OF the ice, and for
half that time within region since the time OF
Cook regarded as solid land with mountain peaks
OF perpetual snow.
The period OF the year when Wilkes visited this
same region was nearly the same as that OF the
Challenger. The latter, it viii be observed, came
from the west to the east, while Wilkes sailed
from the east to the west. The FIRST land which he
claimed to have seen was in about latitude "a
deg, longitude 16s deg. east, and from that point
to the westward land was constantly being re-
ported unail he had finally reached this Termtna-
ton Land over which the Challenger has just
sailed. On the l4th of February he was in latitude
65 deg, longitude 100 deg. east when he says:--
At daylight we again made sail for the land,
beating In for It till eleven A. NJ, when we found
any kNgtheI prQgTe4S quite tmpQsSlbe thia ~ COM