Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/350

1841

so cemented together by the late severe frosts as to defy every attempt to penetrate it. We therefore steered to the north-west, keeping as close to the shore as the pack and heavy streams that lay off it would permit. Smith Inlet, Cape Oakeley, and Cape Dayman, were named after the three mates of the Erebus: Cape Scott and Cape Moore after those of the Terror: Cape Davis and Yule Bay after the second masters; and Cape Hooker and Lyall Islets after the assistant surgeons. Beyond Cape Davis the northern extreme of land appeared; it was called Cape North. A low point, with three projecting knobs like the tops of mountains, was observed at a great distance beyond Cape North, whence the land trends considerably to the southward of west; but a dense body of ice interposed between us, and prevented our following the coast any further; and as the night was getting very dark, and we were surrounded by numerous icebergs, at 9 p.m. we hauled off to the eastward on the starboard tack, to wait for daylight, to renew our operations: hopeless as they at that time appeared to be, they were not the less necessary.

Feb. 22.Early next morning we wore round and stood towards the land, in order to examine more narrowly whether any way might be made along the coast to the westward between it and the pack. I was also very anxious to find a place of security for the ships, where observations on the approaching term-day might be made, and in which we might pass the winter in safety, for