Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/415

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Chap. XIII.]
BOUVET ISLAND.
371
1843

ever, was clear, so that we could see the bergs at a distance of three or four leagues. At noon, by observation, our latitude was 54° 11′ S., and longitude 6° E. Bouvet Island should, therefore, have been in sight, bearing S. 55° E., distant nine miles. We stood exactly for it, until we had run twelve miles, but not seeing it, we steered east, to keep in its supposed latitude: after having gone forty miles further, we arrived at the spot from which Cook sought it to the eastward, and the night getting dark, I gave up all further search, concluding, with him, that M. Bouvet had mistaken a large iceberg for land. I have now, however, reason to believe that there is an island in that vicinity; for since my return to England, I have learned from C. Enderby, Esq. that it has been visited by several of his vessels, and that a party from one of them actually landed, and was compelled by stormy weather to remain nearly six days on the island, and brought on board several seals, which they had killed on its S.W. point.

The log-book of the Sprightly, Captain Norris, is now before me, from which I quote the following passages:—"10th December, 1825. The island is in latitude 54° 15′ S., longitude by chronometer 5° E.; and, as we are now certain it is an island, we name it Liverpool Island. It appears to extend three or four leagues from north to south; the north end high and rugged, the south end low, the middle high, and covered with snow."

There is a pencil drawing of the island, bearing