1854.] REAPPEARANCE OF THE SUN. 103 



February 5. The weather still remains fine, but the 

 temperature still clinging to 40. Yesterday, under a 

 change of wind to the northward, a point from which it 

 seldom blows, we experienced a fall of snow, the tempe- 

 rature dropping, contrary to rule, as low as 50; this 

 was succeeded by calm and a rise to 40. 



After prayers today the bodies of our two men were 

 interred in the same grave, with the customary solem- 

 nities. I had already deferred it some days, in the hope 

 of milder weather ; indeed, in a great measure, to enable 

 me to officiate in my proper place ; but the superstitious 

 feelings of the crew were at work, and I thought it bet- 

 ter to stop talking and conclude the ceremony. The 

 service was read by Commander Richards ; indeed I 

 suffered severely from the exposure, which sent me to 

 bed with severe rheumatism, or, what I am more inclined 

 to believe, an attack of jaundice.* 



February 12. Of late most anxiously have our peo- 

 ple been looking for the sun. On the 9th the refracted 

 image was reported to have been seen from the hill, and 

 on the day following the lower limb was reported by 

 Commander Richards from the same position. With 

 the return of the sun, the breeze also seems to accompany 

 it, having blown in heavy gusts from the south-west, and 

 during its greatest force last night the temperature rose 

 from 47 to 36. I allude to this more particularly, 

 as in former voyages the winds have prevailed from the 

 north and west. We have seldom been visited by strong 

 winds, and never from the north-east to north-west. It 

 is also remarkable that at Beechey Island, when they 

 * From this I did not recover for many weeks. 



