38 Thirty Years 



Nov. 24. — We this day obtained observations for 

 the dip of the needle and intensity of the magnetic 

 force in a spare room. The dip was 83° 9' 45", 

 and the difference produced by reversing the face of 

 the instrument, 13° 3' 6". When the needle was 

 faced to the west, it hung nearly perpendicular. The 

 Aurora Borealis was faintly visible for a short time 

 last evening. Some Indians arrived in search of pro- 

 vision, having been totally incapacitated from hunting 

 by sickness ; the poor creatures looked miserably ill, 

 and they represented their distress to have been ex- 

 treme. Few recitals are more affecting than those of 

 their sufferings during unfavorable seasons, and in 

 bad situations for hunting and fishing. Many assu- 

 rances have been given me that men and women are 

 yet living who have been reduced to feed upon the 

 bodies of their own family, to prevent actual starva- 

 tion ; and a shocking case was cited to us of a woman 

 who had been principal agent in the destruction of 

 several persons, and amongst the number her husband 

 and nearest relatives, in order to support life. 



Nov. 28. — The atmosphere had been clear every day 

 during flie hist week, about the end of which snow 

 fell, when the thermometer rose from 20° below to 

 L6° above zero. The Aurora Borealis was twice visi- 

 ble, hni laini on both occasions. Its appearance did 

 qoI affeci the electrometer, nor could we perceive the 



<•• >ni j im^-s to he <lis! nilied. 



