THE NARRATIVE OF CHARLES WILKES. 417 
4th—Although the wind was moderate, yet it was so thick and 
foggy as to preclude bearing up. Towards meridian it cleared suffi- 
ciently for them to bear up and continue their examinations. To-day 
the current was found west-north-west, three-quarters of a mile per 
hour. 
On the 5th they had a beautiful day—no climate or region, Lieu- 
tenant-Commandant Ringgold remarks, could have produced a finer—this 
gave them an opportunity of thoroughly drying everything and ventilat- 
ing the vessel, which was much required ; standing to the northward, in 
order to make a long board to the westward; the longitude 127° 08’ E., 
latitude 63° 22'S.; few ice-islands in sight, and those appeared much 
THE ‘PORPOISE’ IN A GALE. 
worn, showing marks of rapid decay, with isolated pieces—some stand- 
ing erect, while others were inclined, resembling fragments of columns 
and broken arches. This night there was a brilliant display of the 
Aurora Australis; at eleven o’clock there was perceived in the northern 
horizon a luminous arched cloud at 15° of altitude, extending from 
north-west to north-east ; the stars were partially obscured in the direc- 
tion of the clouds; the pale flashes or coruscations vanishing very 
suddenly, were succeeded by spiral columns or streamers, converging 
with great velocity towards the zenith; brilliant flashes would again 
issue forth from the remote parts of the cloud, succeeded in quick suc- 
cession by perpendicular rays emanating from the cloud, having the 
shape of a rounded column or basaltic-shaped cylinder, which in con- 
trast with the dark cloud showed in broad relief. As the cloud seemed 
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