"An Antarctic Mystery", chapter 1, by Jules Verne, translated into English by Cashel Hoey.

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Chapter 1: The Kerguelen Islands

The picture used is "Ships of James Cook at Christmas Harbour, Kerguelen Islands, December 1776. John Webber del. Newton sculp", published in 1784.

To follow along: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10339/10339-h/10339-h.htm#CHAP_I