Their conviction of its real existence was so strong, that they had no doubt of the matter; and accordingly they endeavoured to work up to it, in doing which the weather was favourable to their purpose.

However what had been taken for land proved only to be clouds, that in the evening entirely disappeared, and left a clear horizon, in which nothing could be discerned but ice islands.

At night the Aurora Australis was again seen, and the appearance it assumed was very brilliant and luminous.

It first discovered itself in the east, and in a short time spread over the whole heavens.
In the night of the 23rd, when the ship was in latitude 61 deg.

52' south, and longitude 95 deg.