The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-05-28

servatory OF planks Joined with copper
nails, we had no materia. for construction
of one but such az this Arctic land could
afford, which was snow and ice. Neyerthe'
less. our observatory turned out very well
adapted TO the purpose, thanks TO the zeal
and sagacity displayed by our marine crew.
One Inconvenience could not be avoided.
In order to give the observatory stable
foundation, which is the prime condition
for structure devoted to the observation
Of terrestrial magnetism, was compelled
to seek a place not on an Ice field, nor any
other submarine ice, near the ship, but had
to 90 on shore Que and half kilometres
distant.
- --.---.-~-- ---~-.- 49, ~.-s.-
would be too irksome, and with yr:snow,
often impossible.
Allotments Of observation duty was
therefore made and assigned to -four
watches In the twenty four hours-the
first from 8 to ga. m, second, 8 to 2 p. m.
third, 8 to y p. m. and fourth from to
am.
The allotment was assigned to the scien
fists and officers in turn. To these were
added the second engineer and the seama q
Lundgren. The latter, before be was cho.
sen to take part In the task, had shown in
clination for such employment, keeping a
meteorological journal on his own account.
Thus, the number beng eleven, q suitable
distribution was attained for the twenty.
four hours.
In dark and temPestuous weather, the
temperature reaching $50, to march II
kilometres out and back and In tho mean.
time remain In q narrow ice house, the tenn
perature within often under -17o. ordina-
rily under -l2o, was irksome enough, but
did not seem to have any injurious effect
on the health Of the details.
For myself, personally, 1t seemed az
though the unavoidable variation in the
monotonous life on board, not interrupted
by any greater adversely or dis ,omfo TT,
might be accepted as o not always pleas
ant, yet extremely grateful seasoning, Of
really beneHoent influence to body and
soul.
The only intermission that occurred
wherein no observations were made during
tho four months, was on Christmas eve
from to 10 p. m, and on Christmas day,
8 TO and 0 to 10 p. m.
Our magnetic observations at this station
rival In completeness those undertaken by
the Swedish expedition at Moselby in the
winter OF 1928, and the Austro- Fl snga-
rian expedition in 1874, that is to say,
the most complete observations hitherto
had from the Polar regions.
Our Ice house, or tintinj arga, as the ma.
tives called 1t, was situated close to the
village Of Pitlekaj, and the inhabitants of
the village in the beginning watched our
work with suspicion and connected them
With Manka's ohisrnatiaps On the eonias
deluge. This fear abated somewhat In
course OF time, especially when, to satisfy
their curiositp, we permitted some of
them TO peep In on our Ice hall, inconceiv. B
magnificent in their view, being illumined
by photogene lamp and stearine candles,
and they were further treasured, above all,
while now and then in tempestuous wealth
or VIC gave shelter to some belated wan
derer.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE AURORA BoREALrs.
1t Ia known the aurora borealis Ia stimuli
taueusly oosmic and terrestrial phenome-
non. On the one hand 1t 10 bound to the
earth's atmosphere and connects with Its
magnetism. On the other hand, In regard
to Its essential nature, 1t depends on chan
ges hitherto little known, which, with
moro or less regularly recurring intervals
Of time, take place within the suns photo
sphere, and which appear to us in the shape
OF sun spots.
Many scientists have even connected the
phenomenon with cosmio bodies, which In
the form OF dust 10 precipitated from uni
versal space Worlds alp on the earth's
surface. Independent OF the splendor OF
color (Tarvepragt), 80 well known to bo-
real inhabitants, which these phenomena
convey. IL has wider significance, and
scarcely has any scientific journey been IN
destaken to the high north, but among the
problems prepared for investigation was to
further contribute to the exploitation Of the
essential nature Of the northern lights.
With the exception Of measurements |
and the exquisite drawings, for which we
Rre under obligations to the French expedi- |
ton TO the northern Norway and Spitzber-
gen with In Recherche In 1850 Of Capt.
labors In the expedition to
Frantz Joseph's land, 1871 OF DR.. Wei
kander's spectrum analyses during the
Of the Swedish at Moselby, and
of Professor Linstrom's on . journey In
Lapiand, 1t must he conceded that tho CON-
.ributions to the solution OF this scientific
problem by Arctic explorers are limited to
'ketches, Of the Northern lights, together
With moro or less apt descriptions Of the
gorgeous light the phenomenon displays.
u was somewhat the less expected that the
Vega, In case Of wintering, should make
IN exception In this regard, as the voyage
was undertaken IN one of those years when
was known beforehand IL would bs !
minimum year in respect to the AURORA, yet
precisely this circumstance has given OPP
to Study this phenomenon Of ma
ure under unexpectedly favorable oondi-
ions and In = tract highly eligible.
The arches Of light which even in Scan-
iinava form the bass wheaes "radiats .
'ursra ID dispersed have ut this station ap-
'eared unobstruotsd BY the more dszzling
and thus, undisturbsd BY any
secondary causes, We have been permitted
o collect knowledge for tho exploitation
4 the essential nature OF the photo arches.
With this I transmit an essay intended for
no writings Of the Academy Of Sciences,
Untitled, "Contriputions to Knowledgs Of
he Position Of the Aurora Berealis In
Space" In this, which ,
ao0OmnaniAd nth rs~~ - |