OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
163 
in that part of the circle immediately above the sun, and this had a peculiarity 1820. 
attending it which we had never before observed. Although the weather 
was remarkably fine and clear, the atmosphere was full of innumerable 
minute spiculae of snow glittering in the sun, which we had never before seen 
on a bright sun-shiny day, though we had constant occasion to remark such 
a deposit, at times when the weather could by no means be called hazy, 
and when the heavenly bodies were distinctly visible. The parhelion above 
the sun appeared to be evidently formed by the reflection of the sun’s rays 
to the eye, by an infinite number of these spiculae, commencing close to 
the observer, and continuing so as to be easily distinguishable for at least 
one or two hundred yards from the eye. This parhelion might at times be 
easily seen to consist of the intersection, or rather the touching, of two 
circles turning opposite ways, of which the plainest was generally the upper 
one, or that which had its convex side downwards. At about 22° above 
the parhelion, being nearly the same distance that the latter was above the 
sun, a streak of glittering spiculae was permanently seen in a horizontal 
direction ; but there was so little of it, that it was difficult to say of 
what regular figure it formed a part. This phenomenon continued above 
an hour. 
Being extremely anxious to get rid, as early as possible, of the drying of 
our washed clothes upon the lower deck, I had to-day a silk handkerchief 
washed, and hung up under the stern, in order to try the effect of the 
sun’s rays upon it. In four hours it became thoroughly dry, the thermo- 
meter in the shade, being from — 18° to — 6°, at the time. This was the 
first article that had been dried without artificial heat for six months, and 
it was yet another month before flannel could be dried in the open air. When 
this is considered, as well as that during the same period, the airing of the 
bedding, the drying of the bed-places, and the ventilation of the inhabited 
parts of the ship, were wholly dependent on the same means, and this with a 
very limited supply of fuel, it may, perhaps, be conceived in some degree, 
what unremitting attention was necessary to the preservation of health, under 
circumstances so unfavourable and even prejudicial. 
At midnight, on the 7th, there was light enough to read the thermometer 
with great ease. On the 8th, the weather was serene and clear ; the southern Sat. 8. 
horizon being much raised by refraction, and presenting very strongly the 
same appearance of land which had so often before been observed in that 
quarter. A few thin white clouds which were floating in the atmosphere 
Y 2 
