It) 
GREENLAND VOYAGE. 
detached pieces of ice ; but the number was not 
sufficiently tempting to induce us to stop for 
them with a fair wind. 
Steering E by S., we soon got clear of the ice; 
and in the evening proceeded to the ENE. 
The weather all day was beautifully fine and clear, 
excepting a slight haze near the horizon, being the 
condensation of vapour by the coldness of the ice. 
The latitude at noon was 64°. 41'., and the varia¬ 
tion of the compass, ship’s head east, 30° westerly. 
An hour or two before midnight, we had a most 
splendid aurora borealis. It commenced in the 
north, and extended itself in an arch across the 
zenith, towards the south. A sort of crown was 
then formed in the zenith, which was most bril¬ 
liantly illuminated, and gave out inuumcrable 
coruscations of great beauty, and with astonishing 
velocity. The light appeared to be equal to that 
of the full moon; and various colours, particular¬ 
ly blue, green and pink, were stated by my offi¬ 
cers to have been clearly observed. Its extreme 
distinctness, and the boldness of the coruscations, 
seemed to bring it to a low elevation ; and, when 
the rays were darted towards the ship, it appeared 
almost to descend to the very mast-head. 
Between the parallels of 62° or 63° and 70°, 
the aurora borealis is of very common occur¬ 
rence, in the spring and autumn of the year. 
