Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/293

1841
Jan. 19.

point beyond a thousand fathoms, but from that depth several shellfish have been brought up with the mud.

At 3 p.m. a favourable breeze sprang up, and we made all sail to the south, steering direct for Coulman Island, which still formed the eastern extreme of land in sight, having a broad passage between it and the main land. A deep bight was observed to the southward of a remarkable cape, high, black, and cloven at the top; further to the north, Cape Wheatstone, the right-hand point of an apparent inlet, had the whole of its precipitous face quite clear of snow, though it thickly covered its rounded summit. The evening continued beautifully fine; but we well knew that a northerly wind would most assuredly bring over us fog and snow, its never-failing accompaniments; and the barometer falling fast warned us to make the best of the brief period of fine weather. All sail was crowded on both our ships, and once again we had all the studding sails on both sides set, and were running directly before a fine breeze. The scene was most animating and cheering; the harassing, tedious, and laborious work of contending against adverse winds and weather were forgotten in the full expectation we now enjoyed of soon passing into a higher latitude Jan. 20.than had ever before been attained; and few on board either of the ships closed their eyes that night, so great were their anxiety and excitement. Soon after three o'clock the next morning thick fog and snow limited our view at times to