Tilt: WELCOME. 91 



leads, at a temperature of 28°. Rain fell 1824. 

 heavily with the gale, and our prospects were Sept. 

 most unpromising, when at ten P.M. a low red 

 line was observed to the westward. It slowly 

 arose as an arch, and the whole of the black 

 clouds began to recede from onr heads ; a blue 

 and transparent sky in the west, soon dis- 

 covered a few stars shining, and in half an 

 hour the gloom which had shadowed us, fell 

 like a dark curtain to the eastward : as it sank, 

 the full moon burst forth from behind it with 

 the greatest briUiancy, and in less than an hour 

 from the first welcome appearance of the fiery 

 streak on the horizon, not an angry cloud was 

 to be seen. A magnificent aurora, composed of 

 all the prismatic colours, flashed wildly and 

 beautifully for a short period, and, as we ex- 

 pected, a heavy north-west gale succeeded to 

 that from the southward. The sea, however^ 

 fell, and we saw distant land in the west. 

 Throughout the night we worked in the centre 

 of the '' Welcome," guided by our leads, and 

 never having less than thirty or above fifty 

 fathoms. Our people suffered a great deal by 

 this most requisite labour, and the hands of 

 many were in so very sore a state, that I caused 

 canvass mittens to be made for the use of the 

 watch on deck ; but on this, as on all other 



