in the unfathomable ocean affords a great contrast to the seeming quiet of the gently-flowing, aerial current of the land breeze. But at times, when, 30° or 40° above the horizon, a fire-ball arises which suddenly illumines the whole horizon, appearing to the eye the size of the fist, and fading away as suddenly as it appeared, falling into fiery nodules, then we perceive that, in the apparent calm of nature, various forces are constantly active, in order to cause, even in the invisible air, such combinations and combustions, the appearance of which amazes the crews of ships. When the slender keel glides quickly over the mirrored waters upon the wings of the wind, it cuts for itself a sparkling way, and disturbs in their sleep the monsters of the deep, which whirl and dart quicker than an eight-knot ship; sweeping and turning around their disturber, they suddenly clothe the dark surface of the water in brilliancy. Again, when we go beyond the limits of the land breeze, and come into the continuous trade-wind, we occasionally see from the low-moving, round black clouds (unless it thunders), light blue sparks collected upon the extreme points of the iron belaying-pins, etc.;[1] then the crew appear to fear a new danger, against which courage is unavailing, and which the mind can find no power to endure. The fervent, fiery nature inspires the traveller with deep awe. They who, under the beating of the storm and terrible violence of the ocean, look danger courageously in the face, feel, in the presence of these phenomena, insignificant, feeble, anxious. Then they perceive the mighty power of the Creator over the works of his creation. And how can the uncertain, the undetermined sensations arise which are produced by the clear yet sad light of the moon? she who has always great tears in her eyes, while the stars look sweetly at her, as if they loved to trust her and to share her affliction.[2] In the latter part of the night the land breeze sinks to sleep, for it seldom continues to blow with strength, but is always fickle and capricious. With the break of day it again awakes, to sport a while, and then gradually dies away as the
- ↑ I have seen this in a remarkable degree upon the south coast of Java; these sparks were then seen six feet above the deck, upon the frames of timber {koussen der blokken), in the implements, etc.—Jansen.
- ↑ Some one has ventured the remark that at full moon, near the equator, more dew falls than at new moon, and to this are ascribed the moonheads (maan hoofden), which I have seen, however, but once during all the years which I have spent between the tropics.—Jansen.
