Oct. 1857. AN ARCTIC SCHOOL. 61 



existeHce, which it did very much like a huge 

 rocket ; the flash was so brilKant that a man 

 whose back was turned to it mistook the illumi- 

 nation for lightning. 



2^th. — Our school opened this evening, under 

 the auspices of Dr. Walker. He reports eight 

 or nine pupils, and is much gratified by their 

 zeal. At present their studies are limited to 

 the three R's — reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. 

 They have asked him to read and explain 

 something instructive, so he intends to make 

 them acquainted with the trade-winds and at- 

 mosphere. This subject affords an opportunity 

 of explaining the uses of our thermometer, baro- 

 meter, ozonometer, and electrometer, which they 

 see us take much interest in. It is delightful to 

 find a spirit of inquiry amongst them. Apart 

 from scholastic occupation, I give them healthful 

 exercise in spreading a thick layer of snow over 

 the deck, and encasing the ship all round with a 

 bank of the same material. 



28#A. — Midnight. This evening, to our great 

 astonishment, there occurred a disruption and 

 movement of the ice within 200 yards of the 

 ship. The night was calm ; the reflection of a 

 bright moon, aided by the more than ordinary 

 brilliancy of the stars upon the snowy expanse, 

 made it appear to us almost daylight. As I sit 



