i>4-ci-iubcr, i8«4.] Gifts Received from the Whalers. 1 1 5 



half from the horizon, above a low, thick bank of frost-smoke which 

 hung over the sea-ice. Through the upper margin of the frost-smoke 

 tlie true sun was clearly seen without any dazzling rays; but, above, 

 two mock-suns showed themselves with a brilliancy overpowering the 

 eye. With his pocket sextant he measured the angular distance 

 between the nearest limbs of the sun and the moon, and found it to be 

 jipproximately 62° 30'; which he verified by the use of his larger 

 sextant. His table of lunar distances in the Nautical Almanac 

 showed this as the true distance for December 23d in place of the 22d, 

 as he had at first supposed the day to be. Looking over his journal, 

 he discovered that the lost day could be accounted for by the want 

 of all notes on one of his sick days, November 25. 



The sledge party now returned, and were heartily welcomed as 

 soon as their very quiet entrance was noticed. One of the sleds hav- 

 ing become unmanageable by the breaking off of the muck-shoeing, 

 the dogs had found it hard work to draw the heavy return load of 

 natives and goods piled up on the other one; their fatigue had pre- 

 vented the howling usual on their approaching home. 



Two chests and a box, directed to Hall, were soon slid along 

 through the snow passage-wa)^ into his igloo. They contained a 

 variety of donations from Captains Chapel, of the Monticello; Rogers, 

 of the Concordia; White, of the Black Eagle; Tyson, of the Ante- 

 lope, and Jeffries, of the George and Mary. Besides the very wel- 

 come provision which made up the mass of these gifts, a quantity of 

 different-colored beads and brass ornaments for the head had been 

 sent as presents to the women, together with some articles to be 

 exchanged for furs. In his record of the day, which not unfrequently 

 is found written as though it were a letter to his two ucvci- forgotten 



