On our quitting the coast, and, consequently, all hopes of being joined by our consort, I had the satisfaction to find that not a man was dejected, or thought the dangers we had yet to go through were in the least increased by being alone; but as cheerfully proceeding to the south, or wherever I might think proper to lead them, as if the Adventure, or even more ships, had been in our company. CHAP. VI. ROUTE OF THE SHIP FROM NEW ZEALAND IN SEARCH OF A CONTINENT.—WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS OBSTRUCTIONS MET WITH FROM THE ICE, AND THE METHODS PURSUED TO EXPLORE THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN. At eight o’clock in the evening of the 26th, we took our departure from Cape Palliser, and steered to the south, inclining to the east, having a favourable gale from the north-west and south-west, we daily saw some rock-weed, seals, Port-Egmont hens, albatrosses, pintadoes, and other peterels; and on the 2d of December, being in the latitude of 48° 23ʹ S., longitude 179° 16ʹ W. we saw a number of red-billed penguins, which remained about us for several days. On the 5th, being in the latitude 50° 17ʹ S. longitude 179° 40ʹ E., the variation was 18° 25ʹ E. At half an hour past eight o’clock the next evening, we reckoned ourselves antipodes to our friends in London; consequently, as far removed from them as possible. On the 8th, being in latitude 55° 39ʹ, longitude 178° 53ʹ W. we ceased to see penguins and seals, and concluded that those we had seen retired to the southern parts of New Zealand, whenever it was necessary for them to be at land. We had now a strong gale at north-west and a great swell from south-west. This swell we got as soon as the south point of New Zealand came in that direction; and as we had had no wind from that quarter the six preceding days, but, on the contrary, it had been at east, north, and north-west, I conclude there can be no land to the southward, under the meridian of New Zealand, but what must lie very far to the south. The two following days we had very stormy weather, sleet and snow, winds between the north and south-west. The 11th the storm abated, and the weather clearing up, we found the latitude to be 61° 15ʹ S. longitude 173° 4ʹ W. This fine weather was of short duration: in the evening the wind increased to a strong gale at south-west, blew in squalls, attended with thick snow showers, hail, and sleet. The mercury in the thermometer fell to thirty-two; consequently the weather was very cold, and seemed to indicate that ice was not far off.