Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/212

Rh hands, to the cold air. A light breeze prevailing from N.W. I am confident there is something yet to be discovered relative to air and cold. The human system is not such a liar as three excellent thermometers I have would make it, if I gave full credence to their story this morning. My three thermometers say 20° below zero, and yet far greater exposure now than at other times with a higher register of temperature, leads to no unpleasant results. I am aware moisture in the air makes a great difference as affecting the human system; but a fact is a fact. The cold air from the same direction—equally charged with aqueous matter at different times—shows a difference of ten to twenty degrees in the thermometer; and yet the air at the lowest temperature affects the human system less than the highest. "December 20th, 5.30 —Thermometer — 5°, barometer 30.200. Wind very light, N.W. Yet there must be a storm prevailing not far from us, as a tremendous roar of waters and cracking of ice comes from the direction of Davis's Straits. The ice around the shore of this harbour is constantly 'singing,' indicating that a heavy sea is now affecting us even here ... 7 the wind went round to the N.E. when it commenced snowing; thermometer 4°, barometer 30.100. At 10  we had the thermometer 14° above zero, barometer 30.050, wind N.E. blowing a gale, the ice breaking up in Field Bay, and also in our harbour.

"Friday, December 21st.—Thermometer 21° above zero, barometer 30.012. Wind light from east. The bay is nearly clear of ice. What little there is fastens up our harbour. The weather is too warm for the igloos; they have commenced dripping. If the like continues, down will come snow-houses. Saturday, December 22d.—The thermometer is actually + 32½°; barometer 30.100. Wind N.E. During the night considerable rain fell. The natives are in sad plight. There has been not exactly a conflagration in the Esquimaux village, but disruption, and a melting down. Nearly every igloo is in ruins, owing to the unexpected storm of rain. Some have