CHAP. this part of the world. I t first appeared in an arch extending from
YV. bj’ N . to N . E. mag. (by the north), passing through Benetnasch,
.Allgust, jS. y. Ursm Maj. and /3. Aurigas, decidedly dimming their lustre. The
arch, shortly after it was formed, broke u p ; but united again, threw out
a few coruscations, and then entirely disappeared. Soon after, a new
display began iu the direction of the western foot of the first arch, preceded
by a bright flame, from which emanated coruscations of a pale
straw-colour. An almost simultaneous movement occurred at both
extremities of the arch, until a complete segment was formed of wavering
perpendicular radii. As soon as the arch was complete, the light
became greatly increased; and the prismatic colours, which had before
been faint, now shone forth in a very brilliant manner. The strongest
colours, which were also the outside ones, were pink and green; the
centre colour was yellow, and the intermediate ones on the pink side
purple and green; on the green side purple and pink, all of which
were as imperceptibly blended as in the rainbow. The green w'as the
colour nearest the zenith. This magnificent display lasted a few minutes
; and the light had nearly vanished, w'hen the N. E. quarter sent
forth a vigorous display, and nearly at the same time a corresponding
coruscation emanated from the opposite extremity. The western
foot of the arch then disengaged itself from the horizon, crooked to
the northward, and the whole retired to the N. E. quarter, where a
bright spot blazed for a moment, and all W'as darkness. I have been
thus particular in my description, because the appearance was unusually
brilUant, and because very few' observations on this phenomenon
have been made in this part of the world. There was no noise audible
during any part of our observations, nor w'ere the compasses
perceptibly affected. The night was afterwards squally, with cumuli
and nimbi, which deposited showers of sleet and snow as they passed
over us, the wind being rather fresh throughout.
On the 26th the w'eather was moderate, and being off Point Hope,
on which there w'ere several lakes and a great abundance of driftw ood,
the boats were sent to endeavour to procure a supply of fuel and
water. YVe had completed only one turn, and buried a bottle for
Captain FrankUn, when the wind freshened from the S. YY". and prevented
a second landing. During the afternoon we turned to wind- CHAP.
ward, with the wind blowing fresh from the westward. , ,
From the time of our passing Beering’s Strait up to the 23d in- Agst,
stant, we enjoyed an almost uninterrupted series of fine weather;
during which w'e had fortunately surveyed the whole of the coast from
Cape Prince ofYY"ales as far to the northw'ard as I deemed it proper
to go, consistent with the necessity of keeping the ship, at all times,
in open water and in safety. Now, however, there appeared to he a
break up, and a commencement of westerly winds, which made the
W'hole of this coast a lee shore, and together with several hours of
darkness rendered it necessary to keep the ship at a distance from the
land. In doing this the chances were equal that the land expedition,
in the event of its success, would pass her. I therefore determined
to repair to the rendezvous in Kotzebue Sound, and, as
nothing further was to be done at sea, to await there the arrival
of our boat and of Captain Franklin’s expedition. Accordingly on
the 27th w'e made Cape Krusenstern, and on the following evening
anchored at Chamisso Island nearly in our former situation.
Directly the ship was secured, two boats were despatched to the
islands to examine the state of the rivulets, and ascertain w'hether the
cask of flour, that had been buried for Captain Franklin’s use, had
been molested; our suspicion of its safety having been excited by observing
six baidars upon the beach opposite the anchorage, none of
which ventured off to the ship as w'as usual. On the return of the boat
from Chamisso Island w'e learned that there was not a drop of water to
be had, in consequence of the streams at which w’e had formerly filled
our casks being derived from beds of thaw’ing ice and snow which
were now entirely dissolved.
By the other boat, we found, as we e.xpected, that the cask of flour
had been dug up and broken open, that the hoops had been taken away,
and that the flour had been strew'ed about the ground, partly in a kneaded
state. Suspicion immediately fell upon the natives encamped upon the
peninsula, which w'as strengthened by the manner in which they came
off the next morning, dancing and playing a tambourine in the boats, a
conciliatory conduct with which we had never before been favoured.
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