Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/377

] thick fog came over, which prevented our running to the south. During the night we stretched to the eastward, amongst streams of ice and bergs, which became less numerous as we receded from the land.

At 2 we came to the main pack, and were obliged to stand back to the westward, having accomplished my object of ascertaining the breadth of the space between it and the land, which was about twenty miles.

We were prevented making any progress during the next two days by unfavourable weather, and were fortunate in having a comparatively clear space for the ships during its continuance. At 9 on the 5th, the wind blew strong from the southward, but under the lee of the land we maintained our position, whilst the loose ice from the islets and coast drifted away to the northward, leaving the shores of Cockburn Island quite clear: having moderated to a light breeze, we got close in with it at 9, when I made the signal to Captain Crozier, and we landed together and took formal possession of the island and the contiguous lands. As we expected, we found it to be entirely of volcanic formation; but the most interesting feature of our visit to this barren rock is that here the last vestiges of vegetation are to be found, and of which the following account is given by Dr. Hooker:—

"As regards its botany, this island may be considered one of a group, lying immediately south