OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
129 
without any of that disorder by which it is too often observed by seamen. 1819. 
A piece of English roast-beef, which formed part of the officers’ dinner, had 
been on board since the preceding May, and preserved without salt during 
that 1 period, merely by the antiseptic properties of a cold atmosphere. 
Between eight and nine A.M. on the 26th, the wind freshened up very 
suddenly to a strong breeze from the northward and westward, and during 
that hour the thermometer rose from — 20° to — 6°. In the afternoon the 
wind became moderate and variable in its direction, and the thermometer had 
again fallen to — 17° at midnight, and continued to fall very gradually for the 
four following days, till on the 30th it had reached — 43°, being the lowest 
temperature we had yet experienced. During the whole of that interval the 
weather was nearly calm, and very fine and clear, and at half past seven 
A.M. on the 30th, the mercury in the barometer stood at 30.755 inches, being 
the highest we had yet seen it during the voyage. The colours of the southern 
sky near the horizon were observed to be remarkably prismatic at noon on 
that day. 
A great many frost-bites occurred about this time, principally in the men’s Thur. 30. 
feet, even when they had been walking quickly on shore for exercise. On ex- 
amining their boots, Mr. Edwards remarked, that the stiffness of the thick 
leather, of which they were made, was such as to cramp the feet, and prevent 
the circulation from going on freely, and that this alone was sufficient to 
account for their feet having been frost-bitten. Being very desirous of 
avoiding these accidents, which from the increased sluggishness with which 
the sores healed, were more and more likely to affect the general health of 
the patients by long confinement, I directed a pair of canvass boots, lined 
with blanketing, or some other woollen stuff, to be made for each man, using 
raw hide as soles ; this completely answered the desired purpose, as scarcely 
any frost-bites in the feet afterwards occurred, except under circumstances of 
very severe exposure. 
On the 31st of December, another striking instance occurred of the Frid. 31. 
simultaneous rise in the wind and the thermometer. At two A.M. the latter 
stood at — 28°, but the wind freshening up to a strong breeze from the north- 
ward and eastward, and afterwards from the S.S.E. in the course of the day, 
the thermometer gradually rose at the same time, and stood at + 5° at mid- 
night; thus closing the year with milder weather than we had enjoyed for 
the eight preceding weeks. 
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