128 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1819. 
Decemb 
Sat. 2 5. 
red light, overspreading the southern horizon for an hour or two before 
and after noon, the light increasing, of course, in strength, as the sun ap- 
proached the meridian. Short as the day now was, if indeed any part of 
the twenty-four hours could properly be called by that name, the reflection of 
light from the snow, aided occasionally by a bright moon, was at all times 
sufficient to prevent our experiencing, even under the most unfavourable cir- 
cumstances, any thing like the gloomy night which occurs in more temperate 
climates. Especial care was taken, during the time the sun was below 
the horizon, to preserve the strictest regularity in the time of our meals, 
and in the various occupations which engaged our attention during the day ; 
and this, together with the gradual and imperceptible manner in which the 
days had shortened, prevented this kind of life, so novel to us in reality, 
from appearing very inconvenient, or indeed like any thing out of the common 
way. It must be confessed, however, that we were not sorry to have ar- 
rived, without any serious suffering, at the shortest day ; and we watched, 
with no ordinary degree of pleasure, the slow approach of the returning sun. 
We had generally found the ice to crack near the shore, as I have already 
had occasion to observe, about the second day after the new and full moon, 
in consequence of the highest tides taking place at that time; but this was not 
the case in the present lunation ; the separation of the ice from the beach not 
having taken place till the 22d, or five days and eight hours after the time of 
the new moon. This retardation of the tides may, perhaps, have arisen from 
the circumstance of the moon and sun having both had their greatest south 
declination about the usual time of the highest spring-tide. It may possibly 
have been affected also by fresh gales from the eastward, which blew on the 
17th and 18th. 
On Christmas-day the weather was raw and cold, with a considerable snow- 
drift, though the wind was only moderate from the N.W. ; but the snow 
which falls during the severe winter of this climate is composed of spiculae 
so extremely minute, that it requires very little wind to raise and carry it 
along. To mark the day in the best manner which circumstances would 
permit, divine service was performed on board the ships ; and I directed 
a small increase in the men’s usual proportion of fresh meat as a Christmas- 
d inner, as well as an additional allowance of grog, to drink the health of 
their friends in England. The officers also met at a social and friendly din- 
ner, and the day passed with much of the same kind of festivity by which it 
is usually distinguished at home; and, to the credit of the men be it spoken, 
