Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/324

230 even from the mast-head. A strong ice-blink to the eastward led us to expect to find the barrier in that direction, but it proved to be occasioned by a heavy loose pack, which we entered at half-past four o'clock, and penetrated about twelve or thirteen miles, when it became too close for us to venture further. We were at this time in 192° east longitude, when we tacked to get back into the open water; this, however, we found more difficult, for the ice had closed so much since we entered the pack that it was not without receiving many severe blows, and losing some of our copper, as we bored through the heavier streams, that we regained a more open space. A boat was sent after a small seal that was seen asleep on the ice, and brought it on board; it was of the common kind, and very prettily marked with dark spots: its stomach was full of small red shrimps. Several whales were also seen at the edge of the pack: young ice was observed to be forming in every sheltered situation under the lee of the larger pieces of ice, the temperature of the air being 19°. The wind continued too strong from the southward for us to make any way by beating to windward: we therefore stood back to the westward during the night upon nearly the same line as we had sailed during the day, but in the opposite direction.

A calm of three hours' duration was followed at 9 by a gentle breeze from the north-westward, which again enabled us to stand towards the barrier. At noon, in lat. 77° 5′ S., long. 188° 27′ E.,