Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/359

] evening we got the last glimpse of Victoria Land; Mount Elliot could be discerned dimly through the mist at a distance of seventy miles; it was blowing a strong gale at the time, but we continued our course until midnight, having seen far enough a-head before dark to ensure not running into danger. At 11 30 we saw for the first time the Aurora Australis bearing (magnetic) west. It consisted of two segments of a broken arch, at an altitude of 15°, from which bright coruscations shot upwards to the altitude of about 60°; the upper points of these rays were more beautifully attenuated than I ever remember to have seen those of the Aurora Borealis: the vertical beams had much lateral motion, and frequently disappeared and reappeared in a few seconds of time: we could not perceive any exhibitions of colour.