1875 THE MOON. 191 



gale ; we can now cut blocks a foot and a half thick 

 from the snow-drifts collected on the floe. This is the 

 first time that we have been able to do so. 



4 Yesterday, at noon, it was as dark as any previous 

 English expedition had experienced. With a perfectly 

 clear sky the noon twilight was insufficient to enable 

 us to make out the words in a " Times " leading 

 article, when the paper was held up facing the south. 

 We have yet eighty-seven days of more intense dark- 

 ness to pass through. 



4 To-day the moon reappeared above the southern 

 horizon. Her movements are so important to us that 

 a monthly bulletin is published giving the precise 

 account of when she will appear and when depart. 

 She is truly the " presiding goddess " of the long Arctic 

 night ; reflecting to us, during each of her visits, the 

 light of the totally absent sun for ten successive days 

 and nights as she circles round the heavens without 

 ever setting. During some period of her stay full 

 moon occurs, and she displays her greatest beauty. At 

 the time of new moon, when her light would be of the 

 least value, she is absent in southern latitudes. Thanks 

 to her we can never realize what existence would be if 

 totally deprived of light. 



1 10 th. — The temperature has fallen to minus 27°, 

 showing that the disturbing southerly wind has ceased. 

 The snow beef-house built on the ice continues at a 

 steady temperature of 12° unaffected by the change- 

 able temperature of the air; the beef consequently 

 must be quickly ridding itself of salt. To-day we 

 tasted a piece that had been dripping for ten days ; 

 it was perfectly good and appeared, as already observed, 



