 a probability of finding a still milder
climate.
    So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly free
from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe was, at best, of
frail structure, although large, and we set busily to work with a view of
rendering her as safe as the limited means in our possession would admit. The
body of the boat was of no better material than bark - the bark of a tree
unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, well adapted to the purpose for which
it was used. We had fifty feet room from stem to stern, from four to six in
breadth, and in depth throughout four feet and a half - the boats thus differing
vastly in shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with
whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the workmanship
of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days after this period
discovered, by questioning our captive, that they were in fact made by the
natives of a group to the southwest of the country where we found them, having
fallen accidentally into the hands of our barbarians. What we could do for the
security of our boat was very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered
near both ends, and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen
jacket. With the help of the superfluous paddles, of which there were a great
many, we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force of
any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also set up two
paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, one by each gunwale,
thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these masts we attached a sail made of
our shirts - doing this with some difficulty, as here we could get no assistance
from our prisoner whatever, although he had been willing enough to labor in all
the other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very
singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near it,
shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out, »Tekeli-li!«
    Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the canoe, we
now set sail to the south-south-east for the present, with the view of
weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being done, we turned
the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no means be considered
disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle wind from the
