OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



427 



It is certain, however, that for some time she was nearly common to every 1323. 

 body, and it was said to be in consequence of a suggestion made on board vl_^^lj 

 the ships, that she became the acknowledged wife of Ootooguak. 



On the evening of the 24th, the thermometer being at +6°, some halos Thur. 24. 

 and parhelia appeared about the sun, which the annexed figure will best 

 describe. This was the only phenomenon of the kind particularly worthy of 

 notice that occurred during the spring. 



S, the sun, eight to ten degrees above the horizon. 



a, e, A horizontal circle of white light, passing through the sun and parhelia ; upon this appeared 

 at times a large white spot, exactly opposite to the sun in the heavens. 



/, ^, Parhelia situated upon the inner halo/, i, g, of which the radius was 22° 20'. 

 h, i, I, Part of an inverted circle, touching the upper part of the halo/, i, g, and sometimes assuming 

 the form of a bow. 



b, c, d, An outer halo, much more brightly tinged with the prismatic colours than the inner one ; 

 its radius 4S°. 



The wind settling to the southward for a few days near the end of April, 

 brought an increased and, to us, a comfortable degree of warmth ; and it was "" " * 

 considered an event of some interest, that the snow which fell on the 29th 

 dissolved as it lay on our decks, being the first time that it had done so this 

 season. Wc now also ventured to take off some of the hatches for an hour or 

 two in the day, and to admit some fresh air, a luxury which wc had not known 

 for six months. The Esquimaux about this time began to separate more than 

 before, according to their usual custom in the spring ; some of tliem, and 



3 I 2 



