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 been 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 oppressing 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, hut can 
not make out our change of position definitely. To 
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, hut not 
severe. 
‘■‘‘December 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 hack 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 
