The clear weather, and the wind veering to N.W., tempted me to steer south; which course we continued till seven in the morning of the 20th, when the wind changing to N.E. and the sky becoming clouded, we hauled up S.E.  In the afternoon the wind increased to a strong gale, attended with a thick fog, snow, sleet, and rain, which constitutes the very worst of weather.  Our rigging, at this time, was so loaded with ice, that we had enough to do to get our topsails down, to double the reef.  At seven o’clock in the evening, in the longitude of 147 deg. 46’, we came, the second time, within the antarctic or polar circle, continuing our course to the S.E. till six o’clock the next morning.  At that time, being in the latitude of 67 deg. 5’ S., all at once we got in among a cluster of very large ice islands, and a vast quantity of loose pieces; and as the fog was exceedingly thick, it was with the utmost difficulty we wore clear of them.  This done, we stood to the N.W. till noon, when, the fog being somewhat dissipated, we resumed our course again to the S.E.  The ice islands we met with in the morning were very high and rugged, forming at their tops, many peaks; whereas the most of those we had seen before, were flat at top, and not so high; though many of them were between two and three hundred feet in height, and between two and three miles in circuit, with perpendicular cliffs or sides, astonishing to behold.[5] Most or our winged companions had now left us; the grey albatrosses only remained; and, instead of the other birds, we were visited by a few antarctic peterels.

The 22d we steered E.S.E. with a fresh gale at north, blowing in squalls, one of which took hold of the mizen top-sail, tore it all to rags, and rendered it forever after useless.  At six o’clock in the morning, the wind veering towards the west, our course was east northerly.  At this time we were in the latitude of 67 deg. 31’, the highest we had yet been in, longitude 142 deg. 54’ W.

We continued our course to the E. by N. till noon, the 23d, when being in the latitude of 67 deg. 12’, longitude 138 deg. 0’, we steered S.E.; having then twenty-three ice islands in sight, from off the deck, and twice that number from the mast-head; and yet we could not see above two or three miles round us.  At four o’clock in the afternoon, in the latitude of 67 deg. 20’, longitude 137 deg. 12’, we fell in with such a quantity of field, or loose ice, as covered the sea in the whole extent from south to east, and was so thick and close as wholly to obstruct our passage.  At this time, the wind being pretty moderate, and the sea smooth, we brought-to, at the outer edge of the ice, hoisted out two boats, and sent them to take some up.  In the mean time, we laid hold of several large pieces along-side, and got them on board with our tackle.  The taking up ice proved such cold work, that it was eight o’clock by the time the boats had made two trips, when we hoisted them in, and made sail