January 1, 1828. — This day we found ourselves completely hemmed4 in by the ice, and our prospects5 looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale6 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 flakes7 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 fathoms8. 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. Standing9 to the eastward10 along the edge of the floe, we at length came to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped11 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 schooner12 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 westward13 we saw some icebergs14 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 crevices15 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 northward16 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 previously17 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 apparently18 limitless floe, backed by absolute mountains of ragged19 ice, one precipice20 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 extremity21 of the field which had impeded22 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 attaining23 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 pelican24, 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 scruple25 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 jaws26, 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 gunwale, and seizing one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means were taken to repel27 him. In this extremity nothing but the promptness and agility28 of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back of the huge beast, he plunged29 the blade of a knife behind the neck, reaching the spinal30 marrow31 at a blow. The brute32 tumbled into the sea lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown him, returned in triumph to the schooner, towing our trophy33 behind us. This bear, upon admeasurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. His wool was perfectly34 white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The eyes were of a blood red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear, the snout also more rounded, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy35, although the men devoured36 it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating.
Scarcely had we got our prize alongside, when the man at the masthead gave the joyful37 shout of “land on the starboard bow!” All hands were now upon the alert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely38 from the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It proved to be a low rocky islet, of about a league in circumference39, and altogether destitute40 of vegetation, if we except a species of prickly pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge41 of rock is seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to corded bales of cotton. Around this ledge to the westward is a small bay, at the bottom of which our boats effected a convenient landing.
It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but, with one exception, we found nothing worthy42 of our observation. In the southern extremity, we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow43 of a canoe. There had been evidently some attempt at carving44 upon it, and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly. Besides this prow, if such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small floes of ice — but these were very few. The exact situation of the islet (to which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennet’s Islet, in honour of his partner in the ownership of the schooner) is 82 degrees 50’ S. latitude, 42 degrees 20’ W. longitude.
We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees farther than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we proceeded, and, what was still more surprising, that the temperature of the air, and latterly of the water, became milder. The weather might even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapour in the southern horizon — this, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two difficulties alone presented themselves to our view; we were getting short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy45 had occurred among several of the crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the necessity of returning, and he spoke46 of it frequently. For my own part, confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from present appearances, that we should not find it the sterile47 soil met with in the higher Arctic latitudes48, I warmly pressed upon him the expediency49 of persevering50, at least for a few days longer, in the direction we were now holding. So tempting51 an opportunity of solving the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, I cannot but lament52 the most unfortunate and bloody53 events which immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting secrets which has ever engrossed54 its attention.
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1
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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3
floe
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| n.大片浮冰 | |
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hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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6
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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7
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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8
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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9
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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10
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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11
warped
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| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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12
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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14
icebergs
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| n.冰山，流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) | |
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15
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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16
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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17
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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18
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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19
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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20
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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21
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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22
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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24
pelican
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| n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟 | |
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25
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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28
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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29
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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30
spinal
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| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
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31
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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32
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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33
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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34
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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35
fishy
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| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
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36
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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37
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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39
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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40
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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41
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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42
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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43
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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44
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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45
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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46
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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47
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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48
latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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49
expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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50
persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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51
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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52
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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53
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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54
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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