228 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. January 



between that of the water and the air, the atmosphere 

 must necessarily be misty near a water-pool.' 



Afterwards we found that neither the southerly 

 wind nor the rise in temperature were experienced at 

 Discovery Bay, the temperature there ranging between 

 minus 56° and minus 63°. 



' The manner in which wind rebounds from a steep 

 cliff, leaving it calm at the base, or, in nautical par- 

 lance, " does not blow home against the weather shore," 

 is well indicated here by the collections of snow-drift. 

 As the wind encounters an obstruction it divides, 

 passing on either side and above with increased 

 strength ; but so great is the reflux in front, that the 

 snow-drift falls and settles there, forming a bank 

 inclining upwards according to the height of the 

 obstacle. 



1 31st. — Temperature minus 40°. Except for a 

 short time on the 24th, and again on the 28th, the 

 mercury in the thermometers has been frozen for the 

 last eleven days. To-day the barometer is falling and 

 the stratus clouds, the usual precursors of a southerly 

 wind, are collecting above Cape Eawson. 



' During the recent cold weather the lower-deck was 

 damper than usual, rendering it necessary to increase 

 the supply of coal ; at the same time some of the venti- 

 lating tubes which were " uptakes " in ordinary weather, 

 when the difference of temperature between the inside 

 and outside of the ship was only about eighty degrees, 

 became " downtakes " whenever the difference increased 

 to above one hundred degrees. When left open too 

 much cold air comes down, which necessitates extra coal 

 being used to dry it and prevent it condensing on the 

 beams overhead. 



