TRIP UP BUDINGTON MOUNT. 



253 



that there was a sight worth the admiration of beings even supe- 

 rior to man ! 



" To-day I have purchased of the captain the chronometer 

 that had belonged to the Rescue. I intend to make record of all 

 the observations I take, leaving most of them to be worked up on 

 my return home. Some undoubtedly will prove to be erroneous ; 

 but I shall do what I can to make all my observations reliable. 

 There is nothing that has weighed more heavily upon me than 

 the want of a good time-piece. When I make my journey west- 

 ward and northward to King William's Land, I shall require the 

 chronometer. Indeed, I need it in my journey up Frobisher Bay 

 this spring. I am anxious to perform work that shall redound 

 to the credit of those who have so generously, so nobly assisted 

 me in my outfit for the voyage I am making here in the North. 

 God giving me health and help in the prosecution of my work, 

 I will do my duty as a geographer and a humanitarian. 



"April 12th. This morning is gloriously fine. I must do out- 

 door work to-day. I will off for a trip up Budington Mount, and 

 from its peak take some angles and bearings of prominent places 

 around and about the bay. * * * * Just returned, and a 

 fine time I have had of it. It was, however, dangerous business 

 going up the mountain's steep, icy, and hard, snow-covered sides, 

 but it was even worse coming down. Any one who is experi- 

 enced in mountain excursions, especially in these regions, must 

 know that the latter is far more difficult than the former. 



"When at the summit it was very interesting. I had an In- 

 nuit companion with me, and, while I took my observations, he 

 slept on a bed of snow, and seemed as comfortable as any white 

 man on a bed of down. As we descended, he made steps for us 

 with a long, sharp stone which he had picked up for the purpose ; 

 but even then we had to exercise great caution. A mishap might 

 have endangered our lives, and also my instruments. 



" To-night the aurora is beautiful as usual. Its rays shoot up 

 somewhat more dome-like than before. It extends northwest 

 around to the south, and thence to the east. How many are the 

 times I am blessed with the sight of this phenomenon. Its 

 changes are constantly going on. I never see it twice alike. 

 Every moment the scene changes. In bright disorder, the heav- 

 ens are almost nightly painted with the blaze of this incompara- 

 ble, incomprehensible light. As its brightness oft is mirrored by 

 my eyes and soul, I often feel that I am truly 



" 'Arrayed in glory and enthroned in light.' 



