PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
539 
before it began, a brilliant meteor fell in the western quarter. The CHAP, 
aurora is at all times an object of interest, and seldom appears without 
some display worthy of admiration, though the expectation is seldom Aug. 
completely gratified. The uncertainty of its movements, and of the 
moment it may break out into splendour, has, however, the effect of 
keeping the attention continually on the alert : many of us in con- 
sequence staid up to a late hour, but nothing was exhibited on this 
occasion more than we had already repeatedly witnessed. 
We were more fortunate the following night, when the aurora 
approached nearer the southern horizon than it had done on any former 
occasion that we had observed in this part of the globe. It commenced 
much in the usual manner, by forming an arch from W. N. W. to 
E. N. E., and then soared rapidly to the zenith, where the streams of 
light rolled into each other, and exhibited brilliant colours of purple, 
pink, and green. It then became diffused over the sky generally, leaving 
about 8“ of clear space between it and the northern and southern hori- 
zons. From this tranquil state it again suddenly poured out corusca- 
tions from all parts, which shot up to the zenith and formed a splendid 
cone of rays, blending pink, purple, and green colours in all their 
varieties. This singular and beautiful exhibition lasted only a few mi- 
nutes, and then the light became diffused over the sky in a bright haze. 
We anchored at Chamisso on the 26th, and, after depositing the 
necessary information on shore, weighed the next morning to proceed 
to examine the inlet. We were scarcely a league from the land when 
our attention was again arrested by a fire kindled upon the Peninsula, 
and eight or ten persons standing upon the heights waving to the ship. 
The disappointment of the preceding night ought certainly to have 
put us upon our guard; but the desire of meeting our countrymen 
induced us to transform every object capable of misconstruction into 
something favourable to our wishes, and our expectations on this 
occasion carried us so far that some imagined they could perceive the 
party to be dressed in European clothes. A boat was immediately 
despatched to the shore; but, as the reader has already begun to 
suspect, it was a party of Esquimaux who wished to dispose of some 
skins for tobacco. 
3 z 2 
