34 A GALE. 



On the 18th the expedition reached the par- 

 rallel of 72° 36' N. ; up to this period the weather 

 had been so moderate that we had not so much 

 as reefed a topsail ; but the aspect of the sky 

 now became changed, sail after sail was gradually 

 reduced as the breeze freshened, until storm 

 staysails only were presented to the increasing- 

 gale, and the ships were burying their gunwales 

 deep in the wave. 



The mild weather, which had thus far attended 

 the wind from the southward, gradually yielded 

 to a cold current from the north, which cased 

 our sails and cordage with ice, and covered our 

 decks with snow. 



Even here we found amusement in examining 

 the curiously-formed flakes that fell, which were 

 different from any we had been accustomed to 

 see, and of which we collected more than twenty 

 varieties. They were crystallised nearly as hard 

 as hail-stones, and were formed into flakes of 

 from four to twelve or more rays ; and into other 

 regular figures, some of which were of the most 

 delicate and beautiful texture. Mr. Scoresby, 

 in his voyage to Greenland, has given representa- 

 tions of ninety-six varieties of these curious 

 formations. 



A contrary wind obliged us to stand to the 

 eastward until the 24th, when we saw Cherie 



