236 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Femtoab! 



So long as it remains calm we can regulate the heat 

 of onr bodies very readily by walking faster or slower, 

 but the slightest breeze conquers us at once. Although 

 we all carry an additional comforter ready to tie 

 round our faces, yet we are wearing no extra clothing. 



' Only three days ago the sun was the same distance 

 below our horizon as it was on the shortest day in 

 Lancaster Sound, where T passed the winters between 

 1852 and 1854 on board the " Eesolute ; " but to 

 make up for its longer absence in this latitude the 

 sun is now returning at the rate of one degree in 

 every three days. To-day at noon, when there was 

 a clear sky overhead, stars of the second magni- 

 tude could be distinguished, but only in the northern 

 heavens. The southern sky was clear of all stars 

 except the planet Venus shining as a brilliant white 

 light close above the southern uplands, sometimes 

 hiding herself behind a ridge, then appearing again as 

 she passed a hollow. Ten degrees higher Mars could 

 just be distinguished by those who knew where to 

 look. Unfortunately these are the only planets that 

 have visited us during the winter, and they have but 

 lately appeared. 



4 The light enabling us to extend our walks in 

 other directions, the " ladies' mile " is nearly deserted. 

 Eeturning to the ship when we arrive at the end of 

 this well-known road, it feels like approaching one's 

 home, and however tired, once on the well-beaten 

 track we forget that we are weary. Everyone without 

 exception is coniplaining of shortness of breath. I 

 certainly do not remember experiencing the same at 

 Melville Island, but it was probably the case ; we 



