220 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VII. 



seas, and also by those which Sir John Franklin has 

 been instructed to make on his present voyage. 



Captain Lyon suggests whether this wildness in 

 the compasses may be caused by the absence of the 

 sun, or the presence of the aurora. Mr. Kendall, 

 he says, observed that, during the prevalence of a 

 brilliant aurora, the larboard binnacle compass 

 would remain stationary at no particular point ; 

 while the starboard one, by a bearing of the pole 

 star, had lessened its usual error two points. 



As Captain Lyon was taking his walks on shore, 

 he fell in with a little incident which gave expres- 

 sion to a sentiment of that kindly feeling he was 

 known to possess, and which his own words will 

 best convey. He was crossing an Esquimaux 

 burial place : — 



" Near the large grave was a third pile of stones, covering 

 the body of a child, which was coiled up in the same man- 

 ner [as the other]. A snow-bunting had found its way 

 through the loose stones which composed this little tomb, 

 and its now forsaken, neatly-built nest was found placed on 

 the neck of the child. As the snow-bunting has all the 

 domestic virtues of our English red-breast, it has always 

 been considered by us as the robin of these dreary wilds ; 

 and its lively chirp and fearless confidence have rendered 

 it respected by the most hungry sportsman. I could not, on 

 this occasion, view its little nest, placed on the breast of 

 infancy, without wishing that I possessed the power of 

 poetically expressing the feelings it excited." * — p. 68-9. 



* On reading this passage to an accomplished lady, she 

 said she felt a desire to try what she could do with so in- 



