OLD WHALING DAYS. 139 



topmast head. Those signals are carefully watched. At 

 the present time steamers always keep near to their boats, 

 and the distant signals are not used. 



From latitude 69 N., to latitude 74 N., on the east side 

 and Melville Bay, not far from the land, a strange 

 phenomenon is heard, resembling a very weird whistling in 

 a high note, and gradually dying away to a very low one. 

 It is only heard when it is calm, and most distinctly when in 

 a boat or in a ship's lazarette, which is nearly on a level with 

 the water. On the deck it seldom can be heard. When in 

 a boat it is so distinct that one could point the finger to the 

 exact place, apparently, from whence the sound proceeds, 

 and where it dies away. I have often wondered whether it 

 is the electricity of the Aurora Borealis rushing through the 

 air, as it only takes place at night in the summer season. 

 The Aurora Borealis cannot be seen when the sun shines 

 bright at midnight, but can it be heard ? I have never known 

 this warning to fail as a forerunner of a S.W. breeze. The 

 louder the sound the fiercer will be the gale. When the sound 

 ceases the dark nimbus clouds begin to rise in the south, and 

 in a few hours it is blowing a gale from that direction. 



Captain Parker, during my apprenticeship, and when 

 I was mate with him, never failed to take notice of this 

 warning, and if the ship was not in a sheltered position 

 from the S.W. winds, he would do his utmost to secure 

 a safe place if possible. Many times this prognostication 

 has saved the vessel from great danger. 



At the present time steamers have not the opportunity of 

 observing these little incidents, which were of great service 

 to us in sailing ships. 



I have before remarked that off Cape Farewell, and 

 in the open of Davis's Straits, in the early part of the 

 season, when the Aurora Borealis has been very vivid, 

 we have invariably had a gale, generally from the S.W., yet 

 I do not say that when it is seen beautifully bright and clear 



