518 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA, 
[chap. 
shown in the accompanying drawings taken from the account of 
the Spitzbergen Expedition of 1872-73. 
Another very beautiful phenomenon, jcroduced by the refrac¬ 
tion of the solar rays by the ice-needles, which during winter 
were constantly mixed with the atmospheric strata lying 
nearest the surface of the earth, was that the mountain 
heights to the south of the Vega in a certain light appeared 
REFRACTION-HALO. 
Seen on Spitzbergen in Myy 1873, simultaneously with the Reflection-halo delineated on the 
following page. 
as if feathered with fire-clouds. In clear sunshine and a high 
wind we frequently saw, as it were, a glowing pillar of vapour 
arise obliquely from the summits of the mountains, giving them 
the appearance of volcanos, which throw out enormous columns 
of smoke, flame-coloured by the reflection from the glowing 
lava streams in the depths of the crater. 
A blue water-sky was still visible out to sea, indicating that 
open water was to be found there. I therefore sent Johnsen the 
