which time, being under the lee of Clarence Island, we found some shelter from the heavy westerly sea we had during the night experienced. Being Christmas Day, our people, as usual, had an additional allowance issued to them, and it was passed by us all cheerfully and happily, although the gale still whistled through the rigging, and we were surrounded by a great multitude of icebergs. We were indebted to the kindness of Lieutenant Governor Moody, of the Falkland Islands, for the good old English fare of roast-beef, which he provided by presenting each ship with a fine fat ox, which had been fed on one of the tussock-covered islands, for this especial occasion.
In the afternoon we met with and sailed through several streams of loose ice, and soon afterwards the main pack was seen from S. S. W. to E. At this time we were in latitude 62° 30′ S., and longitude 52° W., when, the wind falling light, and there being a considerable swell amongst the ice, we were obliged to stand off to the northward for the night. During the next day we beat along the pack edge Dec. 26.to the westward, against a moderate breeze, which afforded us an opportunity of examining it from the mast-head, as we worked in amongst the loose ice off its margin. As far as we could see, the pack appeared tolerably open; but I was desirous of getting between it and the land to the westward, and therefore did not venture so far as to endanger the vessels getting beset in so exposed a situation.
