Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/409

] equidistant points, the nature of the curve by which it reaches the magnetic pole might be computed. As we found the easterly variation to be diminishing rapidly, we might expect, if favoured by circumstances of wind and weather, to accomplish our purpose without any very considerable expense of time: and as our crews continued to enjoy the same good health they had preserved during the whole of the severe season of antarctic navigation, I felt the less hesitation in prolonging their labours in these latitudes a few days longer for so important a purpose.

A fresh south-easterly breeze favoured our wishes, and we had a good run to the westward before the darkness of night compelled us to reduce our speed as we sailed along the margin of the main pack.

At daylight we again made all sail, but the wind had shifted to the S.W., so that we could not maintain so high a latitude as we desired; at noon we were in lat. 64° 7′, and long. 140° 22′ E., in which position we could not get soundings with six hundred fathoms of line; the temperature at 600 fathoms was 38.7; at 450 fathoms 38; at 300 fathoms 36.5; at 150 fathoms 34; at the surface 30.8; that of the air 27°. Many large icebergs were passed during the day; penguins, cape pigeons, and the blue petrel were about us in great numbers, and a large shoal of porpoises was seen going to the westward.