290 
EFFECTS OF NIGHT. 
from the axis of the last set, puts every thing into com- 
motion. 
''January 23. The gale of last night subsided into 
the usual quiet hut fresh westerly breeze, sometimes 
inclining to the W.N.W. To-day is very clear ; the 
stars, except one or two of the northern magnates, in- 
visible at noonday ; and two or three well-marked 
crimson lines streaking the dawning zone above the 
sun. The hills around Walter Bathurst and Posses- 
sion Bay, the entering southern headlands of Lancas- 
ter Sound, have sunk in the distance. Two summits, 
bearing southwest by west, probably belonging to Pos- 
session Mount, are all that remains of the coast. We 
are more than fifty miles from land, and still drifting 
rapidly to the east. To the southwest, by compass 
(true S.E. i E.), little volumes of smoke have been ris- 
ing; hut after a tolerably long walk, I could not find 
any further signs of the open water. We are now in 
latitude 73° 10'. 
“ The daylight is very sensibly longer : the noon 
was quite joyous with its little crimson flocculi ; and 
five, or even five and a half hours afterward, when we 
looked toward the day quarter, instead of a grim black- 
ness, or, as we had it more recently, a stain of Indian- 
red, M^e saw the pale bluish light, so gratefully famil- 
iar at home.” 
The appearances which heralded the sun’s return 
had a degree of interest for us which it is not easy to 
express in words. I have referred more than once al- 
ready to the effects of the long-continued night on the 
health of our crowded ship’s company. It was even 
more painful to notice its influence on their temper and 
spirits. Among the officers this was less observable. 
Our mess seemed determined, come what might, to 
