But we were much impeded by huge banks of fog which frequently shut out the horizon.

Nevertheless, as these waters presented no danger, and there was nothing to fear from ice packs or drifting icebergs, the _Halbrane_ was able to pursue her route towards the Sandwich Islands comfortably enough.

Great flocks of clangorous birds, breasting the wind and hardly moving their wings, passed us in the midst of the fogs, petrels, divers, halcyons, and albatross, bound landwards, as though to show us the way.
Owing, no doubt, to these mists, we were unable to discern Traversey Island.

Captain Len Guy, however, thought some vague streaks of intermittent light which were perceived in the night, between the 14th and 15th, probably proceeded from a volcano which might be that of Traversey, as the crater frequently emits flames.
On the 17th November the schooner reached the Archipelago to which Cook gave the name of Southern Thule in the first instance, as it was the most southern land that had been discovered at that period.
He afterwards baptized it Sandwich Isles.
James West repaired to Thule in the large boat, in order to explore the approachable points, while Captain Len Guy and I descended on the Bristol strand.
We found absolutely desolate country; the only inhabitants were melancholy birds of Antarctic species.

Mosses and lichens cover the nakedness of an unproductive soil.