some
measure, the extraordinary state of health which prevailed among us
during this winter.

The extreme facility with which sounds are heard at a considerable
distance in severely cold weather, has often been a subject of remark;
but a circumstance occurred at Port Bowen which deserves to be noticed,
as affording a sort of measure of this facility, or, at least, conveying
to others some definite idea of the fact. Lieutenant Foster having
occasion to send a man from the observatory to the opposite shore of the
harbour, a measured distance of 6696 feet, or about one statute mile and
two tenths, in order to fix a meridian mark, had placed a second person
half way between, to repeat his directions; but he found, on trial, that
this precaution was unnecessary, as he could, without difficulty, keep
up a conversation with the man at the distant station. The thermometer
was at this time-18 deg., the barometer 30.14 inches, and the weather
nearly calm, and quite clear and serene.

About one o'clock on the morning of the 23d February, the Aurora
appeared over the hills in a south direction, presenting a brilliant
mass of light. The rolling motion of the light laterally was very
striking, as well as the increase of its intensity thus occasioned. The
light occupied horizontally about a point of the compass, and extended
in height scarcely a degree above the land, which seemed, however, to
conceal from us a part of the phenomenon. It was always evident enough
that the most attenuated light of the Aurora sensibly dimmed the stars,
like a thin veil drawn over them. We frequently listened for any sound
proceeding from this phenomenon, but never heard any. Our variation
needles, which were extremely light, suspended in the most delicate
manner, and, from the weak directive energy, susceptible of being acted
upon by a very slight disturbing force, were never, in a single
instance, sensibly affected by the Aurora, which could scarcely fail to
have been observed at some time or other, had any such disturbance taken
place, the needles being visited every hour for several months, and
oftener when anything occurred to make it desirable.

The meteors called falling stars were much more frequent during this
winter than we ever before saw them, and particularly during the month
of December.

CHAPTER IV.

Re-equipment of the Ships.--Several Journeys undertaken.--Open
Water in the Offing.--Commence sawing a Canal t