148 



AECTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



aurora, as it frequently ascended high in the heavens, plainly 

 painted its golden rays upon the face of the clouds, thus proving 

 it was at play between me and them. Blind George, the Esquimaux, 

 was standing by my side. I told him what was going on in the 

 heavens. I said the moon was shining, and the aurora showing 

 off finely at the time. He wished me to place him in position 

 that his face might be upturned toward what I saw and so ad- 

 mired. This I joyfully did. Joyfully do I say ? No, no! For, 

 as Paulooyer (Blind George) asked me, I saw that he was possess- 

 ed of an uncontrollable yearning, seeming to me like that of a 

 pinioned eagle, to soar away to the regions of the stars. He 

 sought to tear away the curtains which God, in his own dispensa- 

 tion, had seen fit to place before his eyes, that he might again see 

 the handiwork of Him who made the stars, the world, and all 

 that is therein. 



" My ecstasy in the beauty of the scene before me was caught 

 up by the spirit of George, thus making him an object worthy of 

 a poet's pen — worthy of lasting remembrance." 



THE AUEOKA, NOV. 23, 1860. 



On another occasion, December 3d, I find myself saying, " The 

 aurora commenced its fantastic dances at 5 P.M. It now stretches 



