168 A VOYAGE OF ‘DISCOVERY 
that is to say, if it existed, was hid from us,- owing 
to its being (as well as a segment of the halo) below 
the horizon, the moon’s altitude being only about 
18°. The halo itself was not equally bright all 
round, for in those parts that were equidistant, that 
is 45° from the paraselenz, it was of a very faint 
colour, and from these points towards the paraselenze 
it became gradually brighter. Like the Aurora Bo- 
realis, its intervention did not obstruct the light of 
the stars it chanced to pass over, for the planet 
Mars happened to be situated in the brightest part 
of the horizontal luminous column, and yet ap- 
peared as bright as usual; its reddish colour seemed, 
indeed, to be a little increased in brilliancy. This 
halo, as well as that described last month, happened 
about the time of full moon. A hole was cut 
through the ice to-day, to ascertain its thickness, 
which was found to be four feet one inch, ex- 
clusive of the snow that was on it. 
Sunday, 2d. — Another halo was seen about the 
moon this forenoon, similar in every respect to that 
described yesterday, except that there was a seg- 
ment of another halo touching its upper side. 
The colour of this segment was much lighter than 
that of the halo itself. The moon’s altitude at the 
time the halo was seen, was 17°, consequently a 
segment of it was, as I mentioned yesterday, — 
the horizon. 
Thursday, 6th. — The officers performed the 
farce called “ Bon Ton”? this evening, in a lower 
temperature than perhaps any dramatic piece had 
ever been played before, at least by Europeans ; for 
a thermometer, hung up in front of the stage, stood 
