144 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820. mosphere. The appearance which had often been taken for the loom of 
distant and much refracted land in the south and S.b.E., was again seen 
to-day, having the same abrupt termination at the latter bearing as before. 
At half-past eight P.M., the Aurora Borealis made its appearance for a short 
time, in an arch, very irregular, but at times very bright, from S.W. to S.S.E., 
at 4° or 5° above the horizon in the centre. 
Sat. 12. It may perhaps be attributed to the long absence of the sun which we 
had lately experienced, and which may have disqualified us from forming a 
correct judgment, that we considered the orange and lake tints with which 
the sky was painted about this period, for two hours before and after noon, 
to be more rich and beautiful than any thing of the kind we had ever before 
seen. The few fleecy clouds which at any time make their appearance in 
the heavens during the winter-months of this climate, had to-day, as before 
observed on the 8th, a tendency to form arches both in the northern and 
southern quarters, extending from east to west, at 10° of altitude in the north, 
and 5° or 6° in the south. A thermometer placed in the sun at noon rose 
quickly from —42° to — 30|° on board, the temperature of the atmosphere at 
the house being 45°, and the weather calm and clear. 
Sun. 13. At three A.M., on the 13th, on a light breeze springing up from the 
southward, the thermometer was observed to rise immediately from —40° to 
— 37°. For a short time before and after noon, a parhelion was seen at the 
angular distance of 22° 30' on each side of the sun, at the same altitude 
with the latter ; these parhelia were of a confused shape, but strongly pris- 
matic. There was at the same time, also, a column of bright yellow light 
proceeding from the sun to the horizon, of the same diameter as that 
object. 
Mon. 14. , I have before remarked, that, in consequence of a comparatively warm at- 
mosphere which was always floating around the ships, the thermometer on 
board, by which the temperature was noted every two hours, usually stood 
from 2° to 5° higher than that fixed on shore, in consequence of which cir- 
cumstance, the whole of the temperatures, in our Meteorological Journals, 
may be taken at least 2° or 3° lower than those actually registered, except in 
a few instances, which are there expressly noticed. The temperature of the 
atmosphere having now fallen below the usual standard, it became interest- 
ing to watch this difference more minutely, and at six A.M., on the 14th, the 
thermometer at the house was at —52°, that on board being at —48°, at 
which time the smoke from the funnels rose very freely, with the mercury 
