Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/448

348 usually precedes them, and we found them to happen, and the weather to be more changeable, near the full and change, although I am no believer in the lunar influences upon the weather.

"Currents.—During the whole of our stay along the icy coast, we found no perceptible current by the reckoning and current log: during a gale of wind I was induced to believe that some existed, from the short sea that was formed, thinking there was more than was to be expected. Tides on such an extent of coast there undoubtedly must be, but of little strength, or we should have perceived them.

"In many of the icy bays we were stationary for a sufficient time to perceive them if they had been of any magnitude, and where the current was repeatedly tried.

"The winds have their effect upon the loose drift ice, or that which is detached from the icy barrier. From a change of wind from south-east to north, with a fresh breeze, the Peacock became embayed, and the ice forced in upon her, which brought about her accident. The northerly winds are always accompanied with a heavy swell, and her escape was a miracle, combined with good seamanship and perseverance. If Captain Hudson's ship had been as strong as adamant itself, he is of opinion she would have been ground to atoms by a longer exposure; her stem suffered to within an inch and a half of the woodends. This was one of the places in which the barrier is within the floe ice several miles.

"The temperature being so low in the summer months, there is but little chance of the ice melting or disappearing, as from accounts frequently takes place in the Arctic Ocean. Your time being unlimited will allow you to wait some days in a situation to make experiments.

"I conceive that the ice of the permanent barrier changes very little from year to year: along the line of our exploration it looks too solid and fast to be moved by any thing short of a continued temperature.