72 ^n Aurora. [scpicmbM-, isc4. 



Hall's journal closes the month of September with an imagina- 

 tive comparison between the early snow-storms and Arctic aurora : 



While out on a walk amid the snow-storm this p. m., I was struck with the 

 similitude, in some respects, of the appearance of the snow, as it was swept along 

 by the winds over the glassy surface of the new-made ice of the lakelets, to that 

 of the aurora in these regions when in its full play. I refer to certain pe<iuliar 

 movements of the one corresponding to the other. If I wished a friend at home 

 to get a fiiir idea of the movements of the aurora here in its general exhibitions, 

 1 should say go out during the first severe snow-storm and get within sight of 

 some smooth ice covering some river, pond, or lake, and watch the snow as it is 

 driven along. Now and then puffs of wind come sweeping along, so to speak, 

 rays or beams of snow that seem to play fantastically. Innumerable numbers 

 of these go to make up a most interesting scene. While the aurora, in rays or 

 beams, shoots up vertically, and is of golden hue, and often of prismatic colors, 

 the snow is swept along horizontally, and is white, the same as the aurora in 

 the sunlight. — White. 



On the 5th of October, Joe brought to Hall some muk-tuh, the 

 black skin of the whale, which was much relished ; but Hall was still 

 suffering from boils on his eyelids. His whole party were sick, and 

 were confined to their tents for several days by a storm. On their 

 recovery, Ebierbing, assisted by Ou-e-la and Armou built for him a 

 large igloo near those which the Innuits had already erected for them- 

 selves. Hall's was built with much care, although it cost but two 

 hours' labor; he found it quite strong and commodious. Its diam- 

 eter was 10 feet. 



The construction of one of these snow-houses, built by the Innuits 

 of this region, is described by him substantially as follows : 



After making trial of several banks of snow, by plunging in tlicir 

 long knives, on finding the proper compactness, they cut blocks 2 to 

 2^ f(-('t ill length and {ibout 18 inches in thickness. One set is cut 

 fnmi tlic spot on which the igloo is to be built, its floor being thus 



