NAUSCOPIE FURTHER II.LUSTRAT KD. 579 



fell in with twenty-seven, and each time the meteor indicated pre- 

 cisely the period of approach, the distance and comparative number. 

 The captain and crew of the vessel can bear testimony as to this fact. 



These predictions, which excited the admiration of my fellow- 

 travellers, and raised their curiosity to the highest pitch, were per- 

 fectly natural and simple. Had a million of vessels presented them- 

 selves in succession, the meteor must have been renewed a million of 

 times. There is nothing more surprising in this fact, than that 

 lightning should precede thunder, that smoke should announce fire, 

 or that clouds of dust should rise before an army in its march. 

 Whenever a cause exists, an effect must naturally ensue. It is a con- 

 sequence of these incontestable truths, that another very important 

 fact belongs to my discovery, namely, the discovery of land when at 

 a great distance from it. 



If it be true, that a person on the sea-coast may be informed of the 

 approach of a vessel at a considerable distance, 'in consequence of a 

 change in the atmosphere, it is not less certain, that persons on board 

 a vessel are informed in a similar manner of the approach to land, by 

 witnessing a similar appearance. The same meteor (flambeau) which 

 exhibits to the land the approach of a vessel, shews also to the vessel 

 the approach to land. 



I conjectured that this reciprocal effect must exist before I under- 

 took my last voyage ; and experience, by confirming the hypothesis, 

 caused me no surprise. But I could not withhold expressing to my 

 companions the feelings of admiration I experienced, on reflecting 

 upon this magnificent operation of nature, and on the wonderful 

 revolution it must occasion in the art of navigation. 



It is a well known fact that the most experienced seamen having 

 but imperfect data upon which they can calculate, the precise distance 

 from a given shore is not unfrequently estimated by conjecture. 

 Hence it happens that the captain is frequently at a loss, in what 

 direction to steer, and the consequences of his ignorance cannot, of 

 course, be calculated. If the phenomena of which I am speaking be 

 attended to, if persons intended for the sea service would make a study 

 of the art of Nauscopie, every danger of the kind would be obviated. 

 Even when the most violent winds prevail, during the darkest night, 

 these precious signs which nature has placed in the heavens for the 

 protection of the traveller remain visible. 



In the midst of the frightful solitude of the deep, a protecting hand 

 holds out the safety lights to the wanderer, and gives him the power 

 of affording or receiving assistance. The friendly shore from which 

 the bold denizen has strayed is pointed out to him by the meteor 

 which seems to invite him back to his native land. 



M. JOUY'S MEMOIR OF BOTTINEAU. 



Etienne Bottineau was born at Chatouceaux, in Lower Anjou, 

 situated on the banks of the Loire. At a very early age he went to 

 Nantes, and being delighted with the appearance of the port and ship- 

 ping, he came to the resolution of entering into the sea service. At 

 fifteen he went on board a trading vessel in an inferior capacity, and 

 afterwards entered the navy at Brest ; subsequently he was in the 



