150 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
invariably from thenorthward; but, contrary to what 
might be expected, we do not experience that it is 
any colder than that from any other direction, nor 
does the thermometer even indicate any, particular 
difference in this respect, for it is affected only by 
the force, and not by the direction of the wind. 
Columns of prismatic colours, similar to those de- 
scribed on the 25th inst., have been observed again 
two or three times since that day, at the same dis- 
tance from the sun, of the same altitude, and in- 
deed in every other way resembling those before- 
mentioned. .The Aurora Borealis was seen also 
two nights ago to the southward, but it was too 
faint to deserve any description. 
Tuesday, November 2d.— The weather has been 
milder during these two or three days past, than 
we have had it for some time before, for the ther- 
mometer has been for most part of the time at 
zero, which we now consider a high temperature ; 
the sky during almost all the above period has 
been overcast, which may be the reason of the 
comparative mildness of the weather. We have 
not had any considerable fall of snow yet, but, I 
suspect, that during the hazy weather we have 
lately had, some fell, although scarcely perceptible 
at the time, owing to its being in such small parti- 
cles, and so dry that the lightest breeze of wind 
drifts it along, so that it is impossible to say whe- 
ther the accumulation of it in some places is owing 
entirely to the drift, or is partly increased by new- 
fallen snow. I think it is probable, however, that 
the latter cause contributes in some measure to 
augment the local collections which we find to 
