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1860 Monday Dec 17th

VI A.M.
The Heavens are beaming with Aurora!  The appearance of this phenomenon is quite changed]] from what it has been thus far in the season preceeding the last [[?two]] evenings.  Now the Aurora shoots up in beams scattered over the whole canopy, all tending to meet at Zenith.  Seldom is it seen here from the horizon but its base usually many degrees above.
[[image: drawing of Aurora annotated "A view around Zenith at VI this Morn"]]

Now multitudnous are the scenes presenting [[?up/over]] the Aurora in one hour!  This Morning the images are rapid - & [[underlined]] magnificent! [[/underlined]] Casting the eye in one direction, I view the instantaneous flash of it, shooting up & spreading out its beautiful rays, gliding this way - thence returning& swinging to & fro like the pendulum of a mighty clock.  I cast my eye to another point, there like instantaneous changes are going on.  I close my eye for a moment - the scene has changed for another of seemingly greater beauty.  In truth, if one were to catch the glowing heavens at each instant now passing [[underlined]] his varied views would number thousands within one hour! [[/underlined]]
Who but god could conceive such infinite scenes of glory?

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1860 Mon Dec 17th

Who but God could execute them - painting the Heavens in its gorgeous drapery!

The day's record now follows:
Bar. this Morn 29.675 a rise of 1 3/4 tenths since last night.  Wind was N.W. Fresh Ther. minus 8°  Star light & Aurora.

What is interesting for me now to record is the incident of this Morn.  Going upon deck the temperature seemed higher than yesterday - a consultation of the Thermometer showed that it was [[/underlined]] 5° lower, [[/underlined]] that is, 8° below Zero.

A short time after the G.H.'s men in the Main Cabin were all remarking: "Not so cold near as yesterday morning".  Judge of their surprise when I told them the reverse was the fact.

Talk about Esquimaux eating [[underlined]] raw [[/underlined]] flesh & [[strikethrough]] a variety of [[/strikethrough]] such food as would disgust civilization!  What shall we say of the French?  Of all nations celebrated for [[underlined]] cooking & eating, [[/underlined]] the French take the 1st rank.
They will eat many things rejected by other nations. For instance, a Frenchman will eat Frogs.  The practice it is true has gradually progressed in the States.  Will the French eat Crows?  Yes if they are cooked by a French Cook.  A Frenchman on board the "George Henry" before the mast eats Crows when he can get them.  They (Crows) being plenty about here even at this late day, feasting on the carcases of the Whales close by, of course Frenchman lives high!  Every now & then Frenchman gets the Cook, or our Ex. Cook, to go out gunning on Whale Island.  Neither returns without a Crow.  Frenchman takes it happily dances then prepares & cooks it, & says it is [[underlined]] good! [[/underlined]]  Now the favorite food of these Crows is common.  While the [[?]] [[?]] returned

Transcription Notes:
Bottom of 2nd page too faded & torn to transcribe.