196 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. November 



blur. The vertical and horizontal reflection forming 

 a cross passing through the moon was very clear. 



1 Sailors being more accustomed to using a hand- 

 spike than to digging with a spade, cannot resist the 

 temptation of using the latter as a lever before the 

 block of snow has been disconnected from the snow 

 bank ; consequently our few available spades are all 

 more or less damaged, giving constant work to the 

 blacksmith, whose forge is erected on the forecastle.' 



The ' Discovery ' improved upon this arrangement 

 and constructed a convenient snow smithy. 



4 22nd. — Temperature minus 37°. The after part of 

 the lower deck is dry overhead ; the fore part fairly so. 

 The officers' cabins are still bad : the moisture collect- 

 ing and freezing when it is cold, thaws and drops at 

 other times. To-day there was a hght air from the 

 N.W., force 2. A few cheeks and noses were frost- 

 bitten, but not sufficiently to stop the work outside the 

 ship. We are still in want of snow for banking up 

 against the ship's side : since the heavy snowstorm in 

 September very little has fallen, and owing to the calm 

 weather deep snow-drifts have not collected near us. 



'Last night a bright streak of aurora was seen stretch- 

 ing through the zenith in a north and south direction.' 



About the same time a faint aurora was observed 

 at Discovery Bay. 



' Yesterday, the low mist through which Aldebaran 

 was glimmering made it appear to move up and down, or 

 'jump,' as several reported; it was about six degrees 

 above the horizon and the refraction very changeable ; 

 this evening there was little or no refraction : the crescent 

 of the moon skirting close above the southern hills was 



