January, 1870 VARIABLE WEATHER. 21' 



CHAPTEE X. 



TIDAL REGISTERS — RETURNING TWILIGHT — SNOW- FLOOR STARS IN 



THE MILKY- WAY — MERCURY FROZEN — CONTRACTION OF CABLES — 

 HEALTH OF THE EXPEDITION — MUSKY FLAVOUR OF MEAT — ABSENCE 

 OF PLANETS — A LEMMING CAPTURED DOG-SLEDGING — TEMPERA- 

 TURE OF THE SEA RETURN OF THE SUN — BANKS RAISED BY ICE 



PRESSURE — VEGETATION AT THE POLE. 



On the 3rd of January a long continuance of calm 

 weather was followed by a squall from the southward 

 accompanied with a low barometer and a collection of 

 dark cirro-stratus clouds which gathered above Cape 

 Eawson at the entrance of Eobeson Channel. The 

 sky in the zenith was unusually clear but of an 

 ominously dark appearance. The weather continued 

 very unsettled until the night of the 10th. 



At noon of the 6th and 7th a low misty atmosphere 

 to the northward, beneath the almost full moon, was 

 brightened with a distinct orange tint. On the latter 

 day the temperature fluctuated considerably with every 

 change of the wind. 



On the 8th and 9th, and morning of the 10th, 

 stormy weather from the southward and a high tem- 

 perature were experienced. The squalls were accom- 

 panied with a blinding snow-drift, which prevented 

 our leaving the ship except during lulls in the storm ; 

 they also effectually stopped the usual magnetic obser- 



