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westward； and the weather somewhat hazy。 On the fifth of November we
made sail to the southward and westward； with the intention of having
a thorough search for a group of islands called the Auroras；
respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed。
These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762；
by the commander of the ship Aurora。 In 1790； Captain Manuel de
Oyarvido；； in the ship Princess； belonging to the Royal Philippine
Company； sailed； as he asserts； directly among them。 In 1794； the
Spanish corvette Atrevida went with the determination of ascertaining
their precise situation； and； in a paper published by the Royal
Hydrographical Society of Madrid in the year 1809； the following
language is used respecting this expedition： 〃The corvette Atrevida
practised； in their immediate vicinity； from the twenty…first to the
twenty…seventh of January； all the necessary observations； and
measured by chronometers the difference of longitude between these
islands and the port of Soledad in the Manillas。 The islands are
three； they are very nearly in the same meridian； the centre one is
rather low； and the other two may be seen at nine leagues' distance。〃
The observations made on board the Atrevida give the following
results as the precise situation of each island。 The most northern is
in latitude 52 degrees 37' 24〃 S。； longitude 47 degrees； 43' 15〃 W。；
the middle one in latitude 53 degrees 2' 40〃 S。； longitude 47 degrees
55' 15〃 W。； and the most southern in latitude 53 degrees 15' 22〃 S。；
longitude 47 degrees 57' 15〃 W。
On the twenty…seventh of January； 1820； Captain James Weddel； of
the British navy； sailed from Staten Land also in search of the
Auroras。 He reports that； having made the most diligent search and
passed not only immediately over the spots indicated by the commander
of the Atrevida； but in every direction throughout the vicinity of
these spots； he could discover no indication of land。 These
conflicting statements have induced other navigators to look out for
the islands； and； strange to say； while some have sailed through
every inch of sea where they are supposed to lie without finding
them； there have been not a few who declare positively that they have
seen them； and even been close in with their shores。 It was Captain
Guy's intention to make every exertion within his power to settle the
question so oddly in dispute。 ｛*3｝
We kept on our course； between the south and west； with variable
weather； until the twentieth of the month； when we found ourselves on
the debated ground； being in latitude 53 degrees 15' S。； longitude 47
degrees 58' W。… that is to say； very nearly upon the spot indicated
as the situation of the most southern of the group。 Not perceiving
any sip of land； we continued to the westward of the parallel of
fifty…three degrees south； as far as the meridian of fifty degrees
west。 We then stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty…two
degrees south； when we turned to the eastward； and kept our parallel
by double altitudes； morning and evening； and meridian altitudes of
the planets and moon。 Having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of
the western coast of Georgia； we kept that meridian until we were in
the latitude from which we set out。 We then took diagonal courses
throughout the entire extent of sea circumscribed； keeping a lookout
constantly at the masthead； and repeating our examination with the
greatest care for a period of three weeks； during which the weather
was remarkably pleasant and fair； with no haze whatsoever。 Of course
we were thoroughly satisfied that； whatever islands might have
existed in this vicinity at any former period； no vestige of them
remained at the present day。 Since my return home I find that the
same ground was traced over； with equal care； in 1822； by Captain
Johnson； of the American schooner Henry； and by Captain Morrell in
the American schooner Wasp… in both cases with the same result as in
our own。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 15 ~~~
CHAPTER 16
It had been Captain Guy's original intention； after satisfying
himself about the Auroras； to proceed through the Strait of Magellan；
and up along the western coast of Patagonia； but information received
at Tristan d'Acunha induced him to steer to the southward； in the
hope of falling in with some small islands said to lie about the
parallel of 60 degrees S。； longitude 41 degrees 20' W。 In the event
of his not discovering these lands； he designed； should the season
prove favourable； to push on toward the pole。 Accordingly； on the
twelfth of December； we made sail in that direction。 On the
eighteenth we found ourselves about the station indicated by Glass；
and cruised for three days in that neighborhood without finding any
traces of the islands he had mentioned。 On the twenty…first； the
weather being unusually pleasant； we again made sail to the
southward； with the resolution of penetrating in that course as far
as possible。 Before entering upon this portion of my narrative； it
may be as well； for the information of those readers who have paid
little attention to the progress of discovery in these regions； to
give some brief account of the very few attempts at reaching the
southern pole which have hitherto been made。
That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct
account。 In 1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution；
accompanied by Lieutenant Furneaux in the Adventure。 In December he
found himself as far as the fifty…eighth parallel of south latitude；
and in longitude 26 degrees 57' E。 Here he met with narrow fields of
ice； about eight or ten inches thick； and running northwest and
southeast。 This ice was in large cakes； and usually it was packed so
closely that the vessel had great difficulty in forcing a passage。 At
this period Captain Cook supposed； from the vast number of birds to
be seen； and from other indications； that he was in the near vicinity
of land。 He kept on to the southward； the weather being exceedingly
cold； until he reached the sixty…fourth parallel； in longitude 38
degrees 14' W。。 Here he had mild weather； with gentle breezes； for
five days； the thermometer being at thirty…six。 In January； 1773； the
vessels crossed the Antarctic circle； but did not succeed in
penetrating much farther； for upon reaching latitude 67 degrees 15'
they found all farther progress impeded by an immense body of ice；
extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye could
reach。 This ice was of every variety… and some large floes of it；
miles in extent； formed a compact mass； rising eighteen or twenty
feet above the water。 It being late in the season； and no hope
entertained of rounding these obstructions； Captain Cook now
reluctantly turned to the northward。
In the November following he renewed his search in the
Antarctic。 In latitude 59 degrees 40' he met with a strong current
setting to the southward。 In December； when the vessels were in
latitude 67 degrees 31'； longitude 142 degrees 54' W。； the cold was
excessive； with heavy gales and fog。 Here also birds were abundant；
the albatross； the penguin； and the peterel e