Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/246

216 barometers, and was gratified to find my apprehensions were groundless, the two instruments indicating very nearly the same amount of pressure; the Terror's being 28.485 inches, and that of the Erebus 28.478 inches. At 7, we're-crossed the antarctic circle after an interval of sixty-four days that we had been to the southward of it. The event was celebrated with much rejoicing.

On the 7th we met with the first specimen of the vegetable kingdom in latitude 64° S., several small pieces of seaweed being seen during the day; and on the afternoon of the 8th, when in latitude 62° 15′ S., and longitude 163° 50′ W., we tried the current, and found it setting N. 59° E., at the rate of seven miles and a half daily. The temperature of the sea at 600 fathoms was 39°; at 450 fathoms, 38°.5; at 300 fathoms, 37°.2; at 150 fathoms, 35°.5; and at 100 fathoms, 32°.2; that of the surface being 35°. We were astonished to find the minimum index of all the thermometers standing at 30°.8, from which it would appear that there was a cold stratum of water of that temperature, between the surface and one hundred fathoms.

Having on the afternoon of the 9th reached the latitude of 60° 20′ S., and intending to keep near the parallel of 60°, for the purpose of visiting the supposed position of the second focus of greater magnetic intensity, as well as of shortening our distance to Cape Horn, by maintaining a high latitude, we altered our course to true east, the wind from the southward favouring our intentions.