But there were compensations.

The brilliancy of the Aurora Borealis, even without the assistance of the moon and the stars, made some amends for that deficiency, for it was frequently so light all night that travellers could see to read a very small print (Samuel Hearne).

The importance of these "Northern lights" must not be overlooked in forming an opinion on the habitability of the far north in the "dark" winter months.

The display was frequent and brilliant.
The Athapaskan Indians called this phenomenon _Edthin_, that is to say, "reindeer".

When the Aurora Borealis was particularly bright in the sky they would say that deer were plentiful in that part of the heavens.