182 MASQUERADE. [CHAP.IV. 



out alarm for its durabil ity. A few of the men were 

 attacked by the same extraordinary rigidity of the 

 muscles of the legs, which I have spoken of before. 

 Mr. Donaldson, and Walker, one of the seamen, 

 were in a very critical state. All who were un- 

 able to walk were dragged about on sledges for 

 the benefit of air ; and improvements w r ere con- 

 tinually suggested and carried into execution for 

 adding to the dryness and wholesomeness of the 

 lower deck. Nor were our efforts relaxed to 

 cheer the spirits and divert the minds of the crew. 

 Another masquerade was got up and went off 

 with much spirit and humour, aided not a little 

 by the introduction, in character, of several comic 

 songs from the pen of Mr. Smyth. The barometer 

 had fallen a little, but the temperature of the air 

 was mild, having ranged lately from 2° to 11° — : 

 wind westerly. 



Sunday had been spent in the accustomed 

 exercise of religious duties, and in the evening, 

 which was undisturbed by ice or wind, the 

 aurora was powerful enough to shed a soft light 

 on the pale snow. For the most part it was 

 generally diffused; but at one time it concen- 

 trated itself near the north west, from whence 

 it shot up towards the zenith in beams and pen- 

 cilled rays, finally settling in an arch from E. N. E. 

 to S.S.W. Towards ll h r.M., and at intervals 

 during the remainder of the night, the commotion 



