Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/180

102 Two small icebergs were seen in the course of the day; and from the low temperature of the air and sea these last two days, we were in constant expectation of meeting a large body of ice. We found also that we had been carried forward thirty miles to-day by the easterly current.

Gale followed gale in quick succession for several days, and indeed with only brief intervals of more moderate weather. Whenever the wind veered to the northward of west it was invariably accompanied by thick weather and snow showers; cold weather and a clear sky as certainly prevailed with the south-westerly gales,—the barometer also always rising with the latter, and descending with the former. On the fourth, at 8, it was down to 28.433, with only a fresh breeze; but a gale, which followed throughout the next day from the south-west, raised it more than an inch before it abated, at 8 of the sixth, when we were again favoured with a few hours of pleasant weather.

At every opportunity we continued our magnetic observations, notwithstanding the general inclemency of the weather: we were the more anxious to obtain them, owing to the utter deficiency of all such knowledge in these parts. We had been led to expect that one of the magnetic foci of greatest intensity would be found in about the latitude of 47° S. and longitude 140° E. We therefore pursued that parallel of latitude as nearly as possible; and by means of the admirable contrivance of Mr. R. W. Fox were able, in tolerably