That this opinion is not well founded, at least where ice islands exist, was now evinced by multiplied experience.
By Sunday the 17th of January, Captain Cook reached the latitude of 67 deg.

15' south, when he could advance no farther.

At this time the ice was entirely closed to the south, in the whole extent from east to west-south-west, without the least appearance of any opening.

The captain, therefore, thought it no longer prudent to persevere in sailing southward; especially as the summer was already half spent, and there was little reason to hope that it would be found practicable get round the ice.

Having taken this resolution, he determined to proceed directly in search of the land which had lately been discovered by the French; and as, in pursuing his purpose, the weather was clear at intervals, he spread the ships abreast four miles from each other, in order the better to investigate any thing that might lie in their way.