Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/119

1837.] the position, but drizzling rain frustrated this object, and the setting in, forbidding all further prospect for the day, compelled us to embark.

The island, which does not exceed thirty feet in height, is a very soft spongy soil, on a slaty micacious schale, intersected by quartz dykes. A few fuci, land shells adhering to ferns, and three small alca, comprised our collection. The ripples I had observed were found to arise from ledges of rock, on which as little as two fathoms was found. The tide was ascertained to sea—flood, north-east,—ebb, south-west.

Strong meanings, or rushes on the surface, intimated that we should have sufficient wind; however, before weighing I determined on trying what the bottom would afford, and succeeded in hooking three fine halibut, two of which I secured; one weighing a hundred and forty-six pounds, was given to the crew, the other divided amongst the officers.

Shortly after five we weighed with the breeze strong from the northward, and a heavy swell from the eastward ; the wind veering enabled us to shape a course for Port Etches, which we now had a prospect of reaching easily, but not before dark.

At nine we observed the aurora for the first time. The corruscationscoruscations [sic] were all very brilliant, but instead of broad masses of wavy lambent light, it exhibited chiefly sharp rays shooting to the zenith, from E.N.E. to N.W. The stars clearly visible, with diminution of light.