184 ' Scientific Intelligence. — Meteorology. 



land stretching along the coast. On reaching the top of the 

 nearest ridge, which was clear of trees, we stopped to look around 

 us, and, to our astonishment, we perceived, as we thought, the 

 sea lashing the base of the hill on which we stood. As we had 

 calculated on having accomplished upwards of one-third of our 

 journey, we were bewildered at this unexpected circumstance, 

 and so convinced were some of my companions, that it was the 

 sea they saw stretched out before them, that they insisted our 

 guide had mistaken the road, and led us along the beach, instead 

 of taking a direction directly inland. The Hne of the horizon 

 appeared distinctly marked, and the vapour seemed to roll on 

 the beach like the gentle motions of the waves, when slightly 

 urged by light and variable winds. Indeed, so striking was the 

 deception, that it was not before I had examined the phenome- 

 non steadily, for some time, and reflected on the impossibility 

 of the sea being so near, from the direction we had taken at the 

 outset of our journey, that I became convinced of the whole 

 being an illusion, caused by the reflection of the sun'*s rays, from 

 a dense mist that hovered over the plain we had passed ; but our 

 guide (an English resident at San Bias) had great difficulty in 

 convincing one or two of my companions, that their eyes had de- 

 ceived them, and that the ocean they were observing was an 

 ocean of vapour instead of water. A heavy rain had fallen the 

 evening before, and the moisture, suddenly converted into va- 

 pour, by the powerful action of a tropical sun, we conjectured 

 to be the cause of this remarkable appearance. The vapour ap- 

 peared to hover close over the tops of the trees ; as, on observing 

 it steadily for some time, we saw one or two of the taller trees 

 breaking through it, having the appearance of distant islands in 

 die ocean."" 



3. Apparent 7iearness of Objects. — " The deception of distance 

 in these plains is even more remarkable than it is upon water, 

 there are so few objects wherewith to measure space, that the eye 

 is bewildered, and quite put to fault. I remember, upon look- 

 ing from the caravanserai at Moschacoor, from whence points 

 in the vicinity of the next stage (Soo) are to be seen, I should 

 have judged a small water reservoir on the road to be but two 

 miles distance ; it was twelve in reality : and a small knob upon 

 the shoulder of a hill somewhat further, (four miles I should 



