按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
subsequent experience。
In 1831； Captain Briscoe； in the employ of the Messieurs
Enderby； whale…ship owners of London； sailed in the brig Lively for
the South Seas； accompanied by the cutter Tula。 On the twenty…eighth
of February； being in latitude 66 degrees 30' S。； longitude 47
degrees 31' E。； he descried land； and 〃clearly discovered through the
snow the black peaks of a range of mountains running E。 S。 E。〃 He
remained in this neighbourhood during the whole of the following
month； but was unable to approach the coast nearer than within ten
leagues； owing to the boisterous state of the weather。 Finding it
impossible to make further discovery during this season； he returned
northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land。
In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly； and on
the fourth of February was seen to the southeast in latitude 67
degrees 15' longitude 69 degrees 29' W。 This was soon found to be an
island near the headland of the country he had first discovered。 On
the twenty…first of the month he succeeded in landing on the latter；
and took possession of it in the name of William IV； calling it
Adelaide's Island； in honour of the English queen。 These particulars
being made known to the Royal Geographical Society of London； the
conclusion was drawn by that body 〃that there is a continuous tract
of land extending from 47 degrees 30' E。 to 69 degrees 29' W。
longitude； running the parallel of from sixty…six to sixty…seven
degrees south latitude。〃 In respect to this conclusion Mr。 Reynolds
observes： 〃In the correctness of it we by no means concur； nor do the
discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such indifference。 It was within
these limits that Weddel proceeded south on a meridian to the east of
Georgia； Sandwich Land； and the South Orkney and Shetland islands。〃
My own experience will be found to testify most directly to the
falsity of the conclusion arrived at by the society。
These are the principal attempts which have been made at
penetrating to a high southern latitude； and it will now be seen that
there remained； previous to the voyage of the Jane； nearly three
hundred degrees of longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not
been crossed at all。 Of course a wide field lay before us for
discovery； and it was with feelings of most intense interest that I
heard Captain Guy express his resolution of pushing boldly to the
southward。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 16 ~~~
CHAPTER 17
We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up
the search for Glass's islands； without meeting with any ice at all。
On the twenty…sixth； at noon； we were in latitude 63 degrees 23' S。；
longitude 41 degrees 25' W。 We now saw several large ice islands； and
a floe of field ice； not； however； of any great extent。 The winds
generally blew from the southeast； or the northeast； but were very
light。 Whenever we had a westerly wind； which was seldom； it was
invariably attended with a rain squall。 Every day we had more or less
snow。 The thermometer； on the twenty…seventh stood at thirty…five。
January 1； 1828。… This day we found ourselves completely hemmed
in by the ice； and our prospects looked cheerless indeed。 A strong
gale blew； during the whole forenoon； from the northeast； and drove
large cakes of the drift against the rudder and counter with such
violence that we all trembled for the consequences。 Toward evening；
the gale still blowing with fury； a large field in front separated；
and we were enabled； by carrying a press of sail to force a passage
through the smaller flakes into some open water beyond。 As we
approached this space we took in sail by degrees； and having at
length got clear； lay…to under a single。 reefed foresail。
January 2。… We had now tolerably pleasant weather。 At noon we
found ourselves in latitude 69 degrees 10' S； longitude 42 degrees
20' W； having crossed the Antarctic circle。 Very little ice was to be
seen to the southward； although large fields of it lay behind us。
This day we rigged some sounding gear； using a large iron pot capable
of holding twenty gallons； and a line of two hundred fathoms。 We
found the current setting to the north； about a quarter of a mile per
hour。 The temperature of the air was now about thirty…three。 Here we
found the variation to be 14 degrees 28' easterly； per azimuth。
January 5。… We had still held on to the southward without any
very great impediments。 On this morning； however； being in latitude
73 degrees 15' E。； longitude 42 degrees 10' W； we were again brought
to a stand by an immense expanse of firm ice。 We saw； nevertheless；
much open water to the southward； and felt no doubt of being able to
reach it eventually。 Standing to the eastward along the edge of the
floe； we at length came to a passage of about a mile in width；
through which we warped our way by sundown。 The sea in which we now
were was thickly covered with ice islands； but had no field ice； and
we pushed on boldly as before。 The cold did not seem to increase；
although we had snow very frequently； and now and then hail squalls
of great violence。 Immense flocks of the albatross flew over the
schooner this day； going from southeast to northwest。
January 7。… The sea still remained pretty well open； so that we
had no difficulty in holding on our course。 To the westward we saw
some icebergs of incredible size； and in the afternoon passed very
near one whose summit could not have been less than four hundred
fathoms from the surface of the ocean。 Its girth was probably； at the
base； three…quarters of a league； and several streams of water were
running from crevices in its sides。 We remained in sight of this
island two days； and then only lost it in a fog。
January 10。… Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a
man overboard。 He was an American named Peter Vredenburgh； a native
of New York； and was one of the most valuable hands on board the
schooner。 In going over the bows his foot slipped； and he fell
between two cakes of ice； never rising again。 At noon of this day we
were in latitude 78 degrees 30'； longitude 40 degrees 15' W。 The cold
was now excessive； and we had hail squalls continually from the
northward and eastward。 In this direction also we saw several more
immense icebergs； and the whole horizon to the eastward appeared to
be blocked up with field ice； rising in tiers； one mass above the
other。 Some driftwood floated by during the evening； and a great
quantity of birds flew over； among which were nellies； peterels；
albatrosses； and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage。 The
variation here； per azimuth； was less than it had been previously to
our passing the Antarctic circle。
January 12。…Our passage to the south again looked doubtful； as
nothing was to be seen in the direction of the pole but one
apparently limitless floe； backed by absolute mountains of ragged
ice； one precipice of which arose frowningly above the other。 We
stood to the westward until the fourteenth； in the hope of finding an
entrance。
January 14。…This morning we reached the western extremity of the
field which had impeded us； and； weathering it； came to an open sea；
without a particle of ice。 Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms； we
here found a current setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile
per hour。 The temperature of the air was forty…seven； that of the
water thirtyfour。 We now sailed to the southward without meeting any
interruption of moment until the sixteenth； when； at noon； we were in
latitude 81 degrees 21'； longitude 42 degrees W。 We here again
sounded； and found a current setting still southwardly； and at the
rate of three quarters of a mile per hour。 The variation per azimuth
had diminished； and the temperature of the air was mild and pleasant；
the thermometer being as high as fifty…one。 At this period not a
particle of ice was to be discovered。 All hands on board now felt
certain of attaining the pole。
January 17。… This day was full of incident。 Innumerable flights
of birds flew over us from the southward； and several were shot from
the deck； one of them； a species of pelican； proved to be excellent
eating。 About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead
off the larboard bow； and upon it there appeared to be some large
animal。 As the weather was good and nearly calm； Captain Guy ordered
out two of the boats to see what it was。 Dirk Peters and myself
accompanied the mate in the larger boat。 Upon coming up with the
floe； we perceived that it was in the possession of a gigantic
creature of the race of the Arctic bear； but far exceeding in size
the largest of these animals。 Being well armed； we made no scruple of
attacking it at once。 Several shots were fired in quick succession；
the most of which took effect； apparently； in the head and body。
Nothing discouraged； however； the monster threw himself from the ice；
and swam with open jaws； to the boat in which were Peters and myself。
Owing to the confusion which ensued among us at this unexpected turn
of the adventure； no person was ready immediately with a second shot；
and the bear had actually succeeded in getting half his vast bulk
across our g