RETURNING LIGHT. 
273 
oretically can hardly realize the operation of the host 
of retarding influences that belong to a Polar night. 
If I were asked to place in foremost rank the item that 
has heen most trying, it would he neither the perpet- 
ual cold, nor the universal sameness, nor our complete 
exclusion from the active world of our brother men, 
but this constant and op|)ressing gloom, this unvaried 
darkness. 
"To-day was clear toward the south, so that the 
blessing of light came to us more largely than of late. 
I walked about a mile on the recent lead, now frozen 
to a level meandering lane. We see to the north the 
Cunninghame Mountains of Cape Warrender, but can 
not make out our change of position definitely. To s 
the south, an outlined ridge of doubtful mountain land 
shows itself high in the clouds ; probably a part of the 
high ridges east of Admiralty Inlet. 
"The thermometer fell at eight this morning to 
— 21°. By noonday it gave us -26° and —27°. It 
is now —22°. The wind is gentle and cold, but not 
severe. 
^^Becemher 31, Tuesday. The ending day of 1850 ! 
So clear and beautiful is this parting day, that I must 
take it as a happy omen. Pellucid clearness, and a 
sky of deep ultra-marine, brought back the remem- 
brance of daylight. I give the record of the day. 
" 9 A.M. The stars visible even to the lesser groups ; 
but a deep zone of Italian pink rises from the south, 
and passes by prismatic gradations into the clear blue. 
The outline of the shore to the northward is well de- 
fined. 
"10. The day is growing into clearness. The ther- 
mometer is at twenty-seven degrees below zero. Your 
lungs tingle pleasantly as you draw it in. 
S 
I 
