TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 175 
generally a zone or belt, of a beautiful red colour, 
all about the horizon, from the S. E. round by 
north to the S. W. The breadth of this ring is 
from four to five degrees ; it is brightest near the 
horizon, and its colour diminishes gradually 
towards its upper edge, where it terminates in a 
pale yellow. The colour of the sky above this 
belt is of the finest blue, which increases gradually 
in intensity, or darkness, towards the zenith. 
The Aurora Borealis has been seen for some nights 
past, but never very brilliant ; the electrometer 
has been tried, but it was not affected by it, nor 
has any effect been produced by it on the most 
sensible of our azimuth-compasses. 
Monday, 14th.— ‘The thermometer this after- 
noon fell to 54° below zero, which is the greatest 
cold that we have yet registered, or indeed that 
we have any well authenticated account of any 
one else having registered.* The weather at the 
time was perfectly calm, and although certainly 
cold, it was so far from being intolerably so, that 
we walked about in the open air without any 
inconvenience, and without any additional clothing 
more than we have been accustomed to wear 
throughout the winter. I am of opinion, indeed, 
that a much greater degree of cold might be en- 
dured in calm weather without suffering any bad 
effect from it, for the feelings does not appear by 
* M. Haiiy indeed mentions that it is recorded in the Trans- 
actions of the Academy of Petersburg, that a temperature of 
57° below zero had been registered once in some part of 
Siberia. 
