RECORD OF AURORAL PHENOMENA. 7 



Fort Isle la Crosse.— Lat. 55° 25' 35" N. Long. 101° 51' W. March 4, 1820. Franklin. 



"We witnessed the Aurora Borealis very brilliant for the second time since our departure from 

 Cumberland" (on the 18th of January, 1820).— Franklin, I, 126. 



N. B. — Very brilliant for the second time since 18th January. 



Off Cape Farewell.— Lat. 5G° 17' N. Long. 42° 51" W. October 21, 1852. Inglefield. 

 "Weather exceedingly disturbed. Aurora Borealis frequently most brilliant." — Inglefield, p. 205. 



Methye River.— Lat. 56° 26' 30" N. Long. 109° 52' 54" W. January 23, 1837. Simpson. 



"On the 23d, we started at 3 a. m. Some time before daylight there was a magnificent display 

 of the Aurora Borealis, commencing with an arch of singular lustre in the north, which suddenly 

 flashed up towards the zenith, and represented the interior of a stupendous cone, the apex and 

 upper part being of a bright yellow hue, while the lower assumed a very rich carmine color. 

 I had scarcely time to admire this resplendent phenomenon when it disappeared." — Simpson, 

 p. 57; Ibid., Life, p. 210. 



N. B. — 1. Arch of singular lustre in the north. 



2. Suddenly flashed up towards the zenith. 



3. Represented the interior of a stupendous cone. 



At Sea.— Lat. 57° N. Long. 49° W. Monday, October 2, 1820. Tarry. 



"After 10 p.m. this night, the Aurora Borealis appeared at times in almost every part of the 

 heavens, but most constant/// in the southern quarter. 



It consisted of no distinct figure, either arch or pencils, but of a generally diffused white light, 

 illuminating the atmosphere at times quite as much as the moon does when six or seven days 

 old. 



This phenomenon occurred almost every night during our passage across the Atlantic, rendering 

 them extremely light, even when the weather was cloudy; just in the same manner that the 

 moon does although her disk is not visible. When the weather was clear, it most frequently 

 resembled the light of that luminary when issuing from behind a dark cloud." — Parry, I, 306. 



N. B. — 1. At times, in almost every part of the sky. 



2. Most constantly in southern quarter. 



3. Consisted of no distinct figure. 



4. But of generally diffused white light. 



Near York Fort, Hudson's Bay.— Lat. 57° 2' N. Long: 93° W. February, 1747. Clerk 

 of the California. 



"When we came into the winter harbor, and during the winter, the Aurora Borealis seldom appeared 

 from the northwest or northeast, but generally from the northward of our zenith shooting south, 

 and at the same time another light, from the southwest, streaking towards the zenith; the former 

 from the bay, the latter over and according to the course of Port Nelson River. 



There was for several successive nights, and at various times in the winter, over Hay's Island, a 

 broad, settled gleam of light, much resembling the Milky Way (only of a brighter color and 

 somewhat broader), that reached from the northward of our zenith, and seemingly joined almost 

 with the horizon. 



The Aurora Boreales were something more frequent in the winter than in the summer months, but 



