OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



143 



Aurora. The upper side of the arch was never well defined ; but its light i82L 

 was gradually softened off, so as to mingle with the azure of the sky, and ^^sc 

 often sent up coruscations towards the zenith. 



Thus far description may give some faint idea of this brilliant and extra- 

 ordinary phenomenon, because its figure here maintained some degree of 

 regularity; but during the most splendid part of its continuance, it is, I 

 believe, almost impossible to convey to the minds of others an adequate con- 

 ception of the truth. It is with much difference, therefore, that I offer the 

 following description, the only recommendation of which perhaps is, that it 

 was written immediately after witnessing this magnificent display. 



Innumerable streams or bands of white and yellowish light appeared to 

 occupy the greater part of the heavens to the southward of the zenith, being 

 much the brightest in the S.E. and E.S.E., from whence it had indeed often 

 the appearance of emanating. Some of these streams of light were in right 

 lines like rays, others crooked and waving in all sorts of irregular figures, 

 and moving with inconceivable rapidity in various directions. Among these 

 might frequently be observed those shorter collections or bundles of rays, 

 which, moving with even greater velocity than the rest, have acquired the 

 name of the "merry dancers," which, if I understand aright the descriptions 

 given of them by others, I do not think I ever saw before. In a short time 

 the Aurora extended itself over the zenith, about half-way down to the 

 northern horizon but no farther, as if there was something in that quarter 

 of the heavens which it did not dare to approach. About this time, how- 

 ever, some long streamers shot up from the horizon in the N.W. which soon 

 disappeared. While the light extended over part of the northern heavens, 

 there were a number of rays assuming a circular or radiated form near the 

 zenith, and appearing to have a common centre near that point, from which 

 they all diverged. The light of which these were composed appeared to 

 have inconceivably rapid motion in itself, though the form it assumed and 

 the station it occupied in the heavens underwent little or no change for 

 perhaps a minute or more. Suppose, for instance, a stream of light to have 

 occupied a space between any two of the stars, by which its position could 

 be accurately noticed, the light appeared to pass constantly and instanta- 

 neously from one to the other, as if, when a portion of the subtle fluid of 

 which it is composed had made its escape and vanished at the end next one 

 of the stars, a fresh supply was uninterruptedly furnished at the other. This 

 effect is a common one with the Aurora, and puts one in mind, as far 



