stant ice-masses frozen in the
pack. Experience has proved what deceptive light-effects may be observed
amid the ice and how easily a mirage may simulate reality.

Whatever the cause of Wilkes's errors, the truth remains that Ross
sailed over land indicated in a rough chart which had been forwarded
to him by Wilkes, just before the British expedition set out. More
recently, Captain Scott in the 'Discovery' erased many of the landfalls
of Wilkes, and now we have still further reduced their number. The
'Challenger' approached within fifteen miles of the western extremity
of Wilkes's Termination Land, but saw no sign of it. The 'Gauss' in
the same waters charted Kaiser Wilhelm II Land well to the south of
Termination Land, and the eastward continuation of the former could
not have been visible from Wilkes's ship. After the voyage of the
'Discovery', the landfalls, the existence of which had not been
disproved, might well have been regarded as requiring confirmation
before their validity could be recognised.

The only spot where rocks were reported in situ was in Adelie Land,
where the French had anticipated the Americans by seven days. Farther
west, earth and stones had been collected by Wilkes from material
embedded in floating masses of ice off the coast of his Knox Land. These
facts lend credence to Wilkes's claims of land in that vicinity. His
expedition did not once set foot on Antarctic shores, and, possibly on
account of the absence of the scientific staff, his descriptions tend to
be inexact and obscure. The soundings made by Wilkes were sufficient to
show that he was probably in some places at no great distance from the
coast, and, considering that his work was carried out in the days of
sailing-ships, in unsuitable craft, under the most adverse weather
conditions, with crews scurvy-stricken and discontented, it is wonderful
how much was achieved. We may amply testify that he did more than open
the field for future expeditions.

After we had taken into account the valuable soundings of the
'Challenger' (1872), the above comprised our knowledge concerning
some two thousand miles of prospective coast lying to the southward of
Australia, at a time when the plans of the Australasian expedition were
being formulated.

The original plans for the expedition were somewhat modified upon my
return from Europe. Briefly stated, it was decided that a party of five
men should be stationed at Macquarie Island, a sub-antarcti