1853.] STATE OF THE CREWS. 77 



paired. On the 1st and 14th of each month they undergo 

 a close inspection by the surgeon, but specially as to any 

 indication of scorbutic affection. I regret however that 

 two of our invalids furnish very anxious cases. One, at- 

 tached to the ' Pioneer/ exhibited symptoms of scurvy 

 in June last ; the other, in this ship, commenced with 

 disease in the bones of the right foot, evidently scrofu- 

 lous. These have remained much the same for the last six 

 months ; but within the last few days it is very apparent 

 that they are much reduced by inaction and confinement 

 to their cots. 



We have been particularly exempt of late from even 

 moderate breezes, but the lofty fleecy clouds seem to 

 travel with some rapidity from the southward. This 

 evening I went out to look at the moon passing our 

 meridian, north. I found it encircled with a peculiar 

 dancing image, which I at first ascribed to defective vi- 

 sion. Shifting my view to the stars, I found my sight to 

 be perfect. Determined not to be put out of counte- 

 nance by the lady, I again faced her. I now discovered 

 a very beautiful play of radial coruscations, expanding 

 and contracting like the pupil of the eye under sudden 

 changes of light. One cause probably might be referred 

 to the increased or diminished light on my own optics ; 

 but the other I detected to proceed from very light fleecy 

 vapours passing over the surface of the planet, and, ac- 

 cording to the number of laminae or their density, pro- 

 ducing this flickering radiating appearance. Although 

 calm below, the breeze aloft urged these mists with 

 great rapidity. 



At a later hour a very clear exhibition of paraselena 



