OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 
169 
quantity had been collected. The snow at this time became so soft, from 
the influence of the sun upon it, as to make walking very laborious and 
unpleasant. 
This rapid change in the temperature of the atmosphere again revived our 
hopes of a speedy departure from Melville Island ; and such were the sanguine 
expectations which animated us at this period, that I believe there was not an 
officer or man, on board either of the ships, who had not made up his mind to 
the probability of our leaving Winter Harbour by the middle or latter part of 
June. 
The fine and temperate weather with which the month of April had con- 
cluded, induced Captain Sabine to set the clocks going, in order to commence 
his observations for the pendulum, and he now took up his quarters entirely 
on shore for that purpose. On the first of May, however, it blew a strong 
gale from the northward, which made it impossible to keep up the desired 
temperature in the house ; and so heavy was the snow-drift, that in a few 
hours the house was nearly covered, and we were obliged to communicate 
with Captain Sabine and his attendants through a small window, from which 
the snow was, with much labour, cleared away, the door being quite inac- 
cessible, We saw the sun at midnight for the first time this season. 
The gale and snow-drift continued on the following day, when we had 
literally to dig out the sentries, who attended the fire at the house, in order 
to have them relieved. I feel it right to mention these circumstances, that 
the difficulties with which Captain Sabine had to contend, may be duly ap- 
preciated in the making of observations that require, even under every 
favourable circumstance of weather and climate, no ordinary share of skill 
and attention. 
The day being moderate and fine on the 3d, we perceived that the late 
gale had almost entirely uncovered the higher parts of the land, the snow 
being blown into the ravines and hollows. We remarked, in the forenoon, 
that the clouds had a tendency to form two distinct arches across the heavens 
from N.N.E. to S.S.W., joining at the horizon, but separating gradually on 
each side of the zenith, to the distance of 8° or 10° from each other. At ten 
P. M. a parhelion was seen on each side of the sun, at the usual distance, and 
slightly tinged with the prismatic colours. 
z 
1820. 
April. 
May. 
Mon. 1. 
Tues. 2. 
Wed. 3. 
