122 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1819. was at first supposed that this accident might have been prevented by not quite 
filling the bottles, but it was afterwards found, that the corks flying out did 
not save them from breaking. We observed that the greatest damage 
was done in those cases which were stowed nearest to the ship’s side, and 
we, therefore, . removed all the rest amidships, a precaution which, had it 
been sooner known and adopted, would probably have prevented, at least, 
a part of the mischief. The vinegar, also, became frozen in the casks in the 
same manner, and lost a great deal of its acidity when thawed. This 
circumstance conferred an additional value on a few gallons of very highly 
concentrated vinegar, which had been sent out on trial, upon this and the 
preceding voyage, and which, when mixed with six or seven times its own 
quantity of water, was sufficiently acid for every purpose. This vinegar, 
when exposed to the temperature of 25° below zero, congealed only into a 
consistence like that of the thickest honey, but was never sufficiently hard to 
break any vessel which contained it. There can be no doubt, therefore, 
that on this account, as well as to save stowage, this kind of vinegar should 
exclusively be used in these regions ; and, for similar reasons, of still greater 
importance, the lemon-juice should be concentrated. 
Sun. 19. On the 19th, the weather being fine and clear, the Aurora Borealis appeared 
frequently at different times of the day, generally from the south to the 
W.N.W. quarters, and not very vivid. From eight P.M. till midnight, how- 
ever, it became more brilliant, and broke out in every part of the heavens, 
being generally most bright from S.S.W. to S.W., where it had the ap- 
pearance of emerging from behind a dark cloud about five degrees above the 
horizon. We could not, however, help feeling some disappointment in not 
having yet witnessed this beautiful phenomenon in any degree of perfection, 
which could be compared to that which occurs at Shetland, or in the Atlantic, 
Mon. 20. about the same latitude as these islands. On the morning of the 20th, the 
Aurora Borealis again made its appearance in the N.W., which was more 
to the northward than usual ; it here resembled two small bright clouds, the 
one nearly touching the other, and being about seven degrees above the ho- 
rizon. These remained quite stationary for half an hour, and then broke up 
into streams shooting rapidly towards the zenith. 
Wed. 22. We had now reached the shortest day, and such was the occupation which 
we had hitherto contrived to find during the first half of our long and gloomy 
winter, that the quickness with which it had come upon us was a subject 
of general remark. So far, indeed, were we from wanting that occupation 
