ITS PRESERVING NATURE. 163 The sun's rays act feebly at all times; but in their most powerful form, there is nothing to collect or to acknowledge their genial influence, masses of snow and ice repress and overpower their effect. The sea in the basin of Deception Island is generally at a low temperature, only two or three degrees above the freezing point in the midst of summer. During the months of January and February, in which we were here, the warmest months of the year, we had frequent heavy falls of snow. A black-bulbed thermometer was exposed to the sun at every opportunity, and the greatest height of the mercury, under the most favourable circumstances of an unclouded meridian sun, was 77°. The general range and average of the intensity of the sun's heat was only 66°. It was found that putrefaction does not readily take place in the climate of Deception Island; for on opening a grave, which had attracted the attention of one of our officers, the body was found entire, and free from any unpleasant odour, although we had reason for believing that it had lain there some years. It was supposed to have been deposited by the crew of some sealing vessel. We observ 164 AURORA AUSTRALIS. ed also that the carcases of seals on the beach, and pieces of the flesh of penguins, were converted into a soft greasy mass, without further decomposition taking place. The climate may be considered as very healthy. We experienced no disease in the crew of the Chanticleer during our stay, excepting some slight cases of chilblains, and a few catarrhal affections, which indeed were less than could be fairly anticipated. It is but justice however to state, that the general healthiness of the Chanticleer's crew must be greatly attributed to the unremitting care and exertions of Lieutenant Austin; and to his assiduity and attention, not only to the discipline but the comforts of the men, I have no hesitation in attributing the absence of illness. Not a rheumatic pain was felt; and every one soon became reconciled to this uniformly cold and cheerless scene. During the time we remained at South Shetland, which was from January till March, we had been particularly anxious to observe the aurora australis, or southern lights: but no such appearance was seen, nor had any of the sealers or others whom we questioned on the subject ever observed them. The astronomers, AURORA AUSTRALIS. 165 Messrs. Wales and Bayley, who accompanied Captain Cook, record, in their meteorological observations, having seen the aurora of the south, on the 25th of February 1773, in latitude 57° south and longitude 110° east. On the 17th of February they saw, in latitude 57° south and longitude 83° east, various streams of light without any motion whatever. In latitude 58° south and longitude 91° east, the aurora was again seen, the colours more variegated and lively, and with motion. The aurora was also frequently seen in 1773 in 150° east; but in January 1774, although Captain Cook went as far as 71° south, longitude 136° to 134° west, no aurora was observed; because, says Professor Hansteen, the developement of light in the vicinity of the South-American magnetic pole seems far less strong than near the Australian in the SouthIndian ocean. CHAPTER VIII. Difficulty of getting away from Deception Island.-Absence of icebergs. - Passage to Cape Horn.-Anchor in St. Martin's Cove.-Fuegians.-Their feeble nature.— Fuegian wigwam.-A bad scholar.-Character of the Fuegian Indians.- Curious mode of catching fish. — Canoes.-Deserted by the Fuegians.-Hermit Island. All ON Monday the 2nd March, we began to evince symptoms of departure from Deception Island, to the great satisfaction of all on board. The little Chanticleer was getting ready, and our proceedings, from the quiet and monotonous manner in which they had been going on, now assumed a totally different character. the requisite measures of preparing for sea were going forward; and notwithstanding the squally weather, attended with rain, which annoyed us much, and promised us still more trouble, boats were sent to bring on board a gun from the head of the bay, which had been landed. This gun had been taken on shore some time pre UNMOORING THE CHANTICLEER. 167 vious, for the purpose of making some experiments on sound. It had settled down and become buried in the ashes in a very remarkable manner, and was extremely difficult to extricate. During the night it blew a gale from the northwest; but the day was employed in carrying on our arrangements for sea. In the afternoon of the 3rd we attempted to unmoor; but in consequence of the wind veering to the eastward, accompanied with squalls and snow, we were obliged to secure the vessel again, and let the anchors alone. The 4th of March was a day of toil; and never was labour bestowed with so little advantage towards a desired purpose, although it was indispensable for our safety. At four in the morning we commenced unmooring the Chanticleer by heaving up the small bower anchor; but before this was up, a breeze set in from the south-west, and the violent gusts which accompanied it obliged us to keep the hawsers fast to the western shore, and to lay the stream anchor to the north-east shore of the cove, for the purpose of steadying the vessel. best bower cable was unbent from the anchor which had been laid on shore, and was hove The |