eastward, and we had fortunately gained an offing before midnight, when it became so thick that we could not see beyond a quarter of a mile.
Dec. 29.Notwithstanding the fog and numerous bergs about us, we stood to the south-east until we met with the pack edge, and almost immediately afterwards an island was seen within three times the length of the ship, although we had tried for soundings every quarter of an hour without striking ground: we tacked, and made the fog signal for the Terror to do so likewise. The cliffs of the island through the fog appeared so perpendicular as to admit of the ship going alongside; and well it was they were seen in time to avoid running against them, as we had no suspicion of being near any land.
We sounded at 1h 20m p.m. in one hundred and sixty-two fathoms, on sand and small stones, and found the current setting to the N.N.W. at the rate of half a mile hourly. The fog cleared away, and we saw the small high island against which we so nearly ran. It is the southernmost of the Danger Islet group. I named it Darwin Islet, after Charles Darwin, Esquire, the talented companion of Captain Fitzroy during his interesting voyage. The wind shifting to the southward brought clear weather, and as we stood towards the land, with the intention of continuing its survey, under all sail upon the port tack, we passed numerous streams of heavy ice, and received severe blows in forcing a passage through some of them.
