Jan. 29.
We had closed it several miles during the calm, but all our anxiety on that account was removed on a breeze springing up from the south-east. I went on board the Terror for a short time, this afternoon, to consult with Commander Crozier, and compare our chronometers and barometers[1], and on my return at half-past four, we made all sail on the starboard tack to the eastward; but not being able to fetch along the barrier, and the weather becoming thick with snow, we lost sight of it before nine o'clock in the evening. Several gigantic petrel were seen, and one that was badly wounded by Mr. Abernethy falling at too great a distance for us to send a boat after it, was immediately attacked by two others of the same kind, and torn to pieces. Many white petrel, stormy petrel, small penguins, and some of the Skua gull were also seen. The breeze freshened very much, and drew more round to the eastward. The barrier was occasionally seen between the frequent snow-showers; and as we made but slow progress along it, we could quite clearly determine its continuity. At midnight we had gained the lat. of 78° S., in 180° of E. long. At this time the wind was blowing fresh from E.S.E., bringing a considerable swell along the face of the barrier, to which
- ↑ After an absence now of nearly three months from Van Diemen's Land, the chronometers of the two ships were found to differ only 4″ of time, equal to a mile of longitude, or in this latitude less than a quarter of a mile of distance; a sufficient proof of the excellence of the instruments with which we were furnished:—the agreement of the barometers was perfect.
