282 Chapter VI. 



eight minutes later it extended -to the zenith, and two 

 minutes after this there was a shining broad arch 

 across the zenith with intensity 6. Twelve seconds later 

 flaming rays shot from the zenith in an easterly 

 direction. During the next half-hour there was con- 

 stant aurora, chiefly in bands across or near the zenith, 

 or lower in the southern sky. The observation ended 

 about 10.38. The intensity was then 2, the aurora 

 diffused over the southern sky. There were cumulus 

 clouds of varying closeness all the time. They came 

 up in the south-east at the beginning of the observa- 

 tion, and disappeared towards the end of it ; they were 

 closest about 10 minutes past 10. At the time that 

 the broad shining arch through the zenith was at 

 its highest intensity, the cumulus clouds in the north- 

 west shone quite white, though we were unable to detect 

 any aurora borealis phenomena in this quarter. The 

 reflection of light on the ice field was pretty strong at 

 the same time. In the aurora borealis the cumulus 

 clouds appeared of a darker colour, almost the grey ot 

 wool. The colours of the aurora were yellowish, bluish- 

 white, milky blue cold colouring.' According to the 

 meteorological journal there was still aurora borealis in 

 the southern sky at midnight." 



"Tuesday, December J2th. Had a long walk south- 

 east this mornino-. The ice is in much the same 



O 



condition there as it is to the west, packed or pressed up 

 into mounds, with flat floes between. This evening the 



