366 Injured Instruments. [Norember, ises. 



The note-books of this journey are filled up with the minutest 

 details of the visits, of the observations attempted, of their computa- 

 tions, and of the perplexities into which Hall found himself driven by 

 the severity of the cold, the changing season, and the injuries renewed 

 to his instruments, preventing the accuracy he so much desired for 

 his work. 



The notes of the night of the 15th of the month say: 



Tried my best to make observations for latitude (►f Jupiter, but though not 

 a cloud in the heavens, yet the stars shine dimly and fine snow is falling. Usu- 

 ally the sky is called hazy when it is really diffused aurora. 



Again, on the 20th : 



Nothing causes me greater regret than the poor instruments I have in the 

 way of sextants. At nine this evening the heavens became clear, and I tried 

 my best to get some good observations of Jupiter, though he had passed the 

 meridian. By several observations I could determine the latitude, but that only 

 could I make. The silvering on the glasses is all cracked by the frost of several 

 winters of the North. 



On the 28th, the moon at 8 p. m. was covered with a hazy 

 atmosphere, but was gloriously surrounded by several circles: the 

 outer one of rose color, then a lesser one of pea-green, then lilac, and 

 then a knob of radiant light like the sun's. The outer circle was 

 about S*^ in diameter. 



His pocket-chronometer having provokingh^ stopped, he devised 

 a plan for detecting a repetition of the fault; this was to place the chro- 

 nometer in his hood and next his right ear. The fob was made by one 

 of the Innuit women out of rabbit and deer skin. From the time he 

 rose till he retired, the instrument lay next his ear as in the safest and 

 most convenient place considering the calls upon it. When keeping 

 it next his heart, it was warm and safe from any sudden jar. 



