TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 173 
forenoon was very fine and clear, we made sure of 
seeing it ; several of us were therefore in the main- 
top about half past eleven, to welcome its return, 
and at twelve, or rather a few minutes after, we had 
the pleasure of witnessing the glorious luminary 
again, after an absence of ninety-two days. It is 
more easy to conceive than describe the pleasure 
that every person felt on this occasion, at oncemore 
seeing that heavenly agent, which is to set us free 
from confinement. But I consider, that to do jus- 
tice to this subject, and to the sensations excited 
by so sublime and joyful a sight, would require my 
entering into rhapsodies, more suitable to the effu- 
sions of a poetical imagination, than the unadorned 
language of a plain narrator; I shall therefore 
avoid saying any thing more about the matter. 
During the time the sun was above the horizon *, 
a vertical column of a beautiful red colour extended 
from it towards the zenith; the colour was 
most brilliant near the sun, and diminished gradu- 
ally as it went upwards. It was observed also, that 
sooner than it ought to be seen in this latitude, according to its 
declination ; but when we consider the density of the atmo- 
sphere in these regions, and consequently its increased refractive 
power, we ought not to be surprised, but, on the contrary, 
rather expect to find that the sun would be visible some time 
before it got within 90° of us, after allowing for the ordinary 
‘refraction. 
* There was little thin haze in the horizon, so that the, sun’s 
disc was not well defined; from this circumstance one or two 
persons who were inclined to be sceptical, even doubted the 
sun’s being above the horizon at all ; but characters of this sort 
will always assert themselves in subjecis that admit of a doubt. 
