showers of snow; which made it necessary to steer with much caution. To lessen their danger, they returned a little towards the north, and then stretched to the east; but the weather clearing up, they again resumed a southerly course, and crossed the antarctic circle once more, on monday the 20th. They now met with islands of ice, lofty and rugged, with numerous peaks; and on the 23rd, the cold being most intense, the ropes were glazed over with ice, the sails were stiff like boards, and the shivers frozen in the blocks. They had now reached 67° 20' S. lat., and in this dismal region they spent their Christmas, amidst numerous islands of ice, about 100 being ther in sight. The number of icebergs and masses of ice appearing still greater on the 26th, it was found necessary again to take a more northerly course; and after reaching 134° 17' W. long., Captain Cook turned back towards the N.W., resolving to move in a zigzag course, in different latitudes, that no considerable country or island, in those seas, might escape discovery. On monday, Jan. 3rd, 1774, he attained 140° 31' W. long., and 56° S. lat., when contrary winds obliged him to turn, and steer towards the N.E. In this direction he persevered till tuesday, the 11th; when, being in lat. 47° 51' S., long. 122° 12' W., he altered his course, and advanced towards the S.E. On the 20th, he was again among icebergs, in lat. 62° 34'; one of them was large and lofty, not less than 200 feet high, terminating in a peak resembling the cupola of St. Paul's. After steering eastward to 108° 7' W. longitude, our navigator finding the weather bright, and the sea clear of ice, again advanced towards the south, and on the 26th recrossed the antarctic
