The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-09-03

twenty four days were spent examining
the numerous bays, creeks and fiords or the
east or lee side of tue ftAnd. A high
range OF mountains covered with suew
extend the whole length, the highest peak
being Noun: Rose, at Royal Sound, 5000
+ feet The vegetation Is fnreIa the same
! evxy~dere-soft MOSS coarse grass, plenty
Of tire caIbsSes bat ne trees or shrubs.
The aowerIng piants 10 all do cot number
over thirty. Sea elef hants snd leoparJs
were numerous in tie creeks, and few
fur seals were obtained. Tire only four
legged aui--al discovered WIS ? mouse, a
colony of whr-h probably cot ashore from
some nhaler. There was cipital duck
shooting everywhere. The birds are small,
Of dark, brown plurrage something ike
pidgeon, aud capitrl eating. We could
not find that they were described by natur-
alistS and probably the species is only to
lie found on these southern islands
Capt. Narse was in favor Of Royal
Sound for observatory station. 1t is
the headquarters Of the sealers, and Il fue
estuary, with fully, | should think, one
Thousand islands in it; we laid down about
enc hundred in our running survey.
The climate Of Nergdeen may well be
compared to that a England in winter.
Gales of Wind, however, were rather
more frcqueCt; our average was one every
three days. We we're blown off the land
several times, and had difficulty in re-
. turning 90 account OF thici. weather.
The Thermometer generally stood about IL
or Al degrees, rad ranged from IS to So
degrees. No lard birds were found The
list of red birde IS rather long, but the
principal urct Three kinds of aItatross,
four procellarla, pri0n, gulls, ducks, cuff
maria, gracuu>, mcgali,tris, ana four pen
gums.
Very few fish wc.e eau ht; most Of them
We're small from the dreige traNl AND
surf; &c lets The ser lers told is that
large fish ere to be caught off some small
Islands, which arc must appropriately
called the d" Rocks Of Despair aud We
kept well clear OF them.
Thick. tusgy weather was experienced
on the passage to lIearI's Island, which
was reached on the 5.h Of February. Cor
inthian Bay. or Whskey Bag, as it is
called 10y seaiers, from the quantity of
Bourbon consumed every year when the
bark arrives, is the best anchorage. The
land is very high, the mountains being
va-iou,ly estimated from 5000 to $4,000
feet nigh, but it does rot appear to have
been measured by surveyors, and is nearly
always enveloped in mist. On one side Of
the bay II magnificent glacier runs down to
the waters edge, aud is said to extend the
whole length of the islaLd. 1t is the first
one have ever seen, but l cannot attempt
&c describe its grandeur.
There was scarcely any green on shore'
no cabbage and no ducks. The tempera-
ture fell to 81 degrees, and that Of the
water to Sc degrees.
I Ice was first seen on the ll.h of Fcbru-
gitude 60 deg. 20 min. east, when we
sounded IN | 260 fathonis and dredged
close TO the large berg, go feet high aud IA
quarter of a mile long. For the next five
days we sailed through great numbers of
icebergs, most Of them tabular or fiat top
/ ped, and basin ice, until on the l4th Of
February we were STOPPED by the pack
ICE to the southeast in latitude 65 deg. A.
min, longitude II deg. 40 min. east. We
bore away along the edge of the pack ice
to southwestward, and crossed the Antar-
tic circle on the 10th Of February in lonsi-
tade IS east. We reached within 400
miles of the South Pole, aud 100 miles to
the southwark of the position assigned by
Capt Wilies to Termination Land, but
4I0 miles to the westward of it, so We
stood to the eastward with the view of
seeking for it in that direction.
The ieebergs which we passed were, !
may SLY. innuEerble, a. many as eighty
seren being N sight at one time, nearly
all fat topped. and evidently set adrif,
fr-n the great southern ice barrier. The
effect of a shot at a large one over 200
feet high, astonished us s'l one day BY
The quantity of ice j, brought down FROM
nearly the whole length of the berg.
The weather was now fnc, sJlerably
clear, the nights meter properly dark
bright flashes Of Aurora Australis, and a
brilliant red light generally lllamil a,ing
the western horizon, caused by the reflec
ton Of the sun on ice. There was a good
deal Of snow and sharp frost. The lowest
| temperature was % deg. Fahreuheit. am
that of the water p deg. when running
through open pack"
Great numbers of whales where seen al
the time We were near the ice. On som,
afternoons they we're blowing around th,
, ship in dozens. Many appeared to b,
fright whales, and spouted only one lie
J OF water. Shoals of grampuses we're ais
. seen.
5 had almost forgotten to say that wter
4 we gave up the search to the westward, OF
e the 10th of February, ar open sea a!uos
: free OF bergs was seea 10 the southves.
t and nothing to prevent a strengthened shi,
II going Cd II that direction.
On the 23d of February we renche
o latitude OF deg. Is min south. lougitui
. "a deg. Il min. east, being within six mile
Of the supposed position OF Wilkes Terni
.pat.on Land, when pack ice was see