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Chap. VIII.]
MOUNT TERROR.
217
1841.
Jan. 28.The discovery of an active volcano in so high a southern latitude cannot but be esteemed a circumstance of high geological importance and interest, and contribute to throw some further light on the physical construction of our globe. I named it "Mount Erebus," and an extinct volcano to the eastward, little inferior in height, being by measurement ten thousand nine hundred feet high, was called "Mount Terror."
A small high round island, which had been in sight all the morning, was named "Beaufort Island," in compliment to Captain Francis Beaufort, of the Royal Navy, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, who was not only mainly instrumental in promoting the sending forth our expedition, but afforded me much assistance, during its equipment, by his opinion and advice: and it is very gratifying to me to pay this tribute of respect and gratitude to him for the many acts of kindness and personal friendship I have received at his hands. At 4 p.m. we were in lat. 76° 6′ S., long. 168° 11′ E. The magnetic dip 88° 27′ S., and the variation 95° 31′ E.: we were therefore considerably to the southward of the magnetic pole, without any appearance of being able to approach it on account of the land-ice, at a short distance to the westward, uniting with the western point of the "High Island," which, however, afterwards proved to be part of the main land, and of which Mount Erebus forms the most conspicuous object. As we approached the land under all studding-sails, we perceived a low white