PHENOMENA AT SEA. 



9 



L 



mcf kind. — In the Northern Atlantic they> are seldom 

 strong : but arc frequently so near the equator, between 

 the Coast of Guinea and the American Continent. About 

 the southern limit of the Maldiva Isles, near the Equator, 

 and to the eastward of the Philippine Islands, they are 

 frequently strong and changeable. — In latitude 40<>. South 

 near the Cape of Good Hope, a strong current commenced 

 suddenly, which produced a mountainous sea, when there 

 was very little wind : — it continued to run strong for a 

 day, then suddenly abated, and set in another direction 

 with a gentle velocity ; the high sea falling at the time. 



The agitated and smooth portions observed on the lakes, smooth and 4- 

 prevailmuch at sea in sultry weather, M^hen nearly calm, gitatcd porti- 

 At such times, the faint airs seldom agitate the surface of ^^^Jh^faint airs, 

 the sea in a regular manner, but the agitated and smooth 

 portions, appear in veins and patches, intersecting each 

 other in a variety of directions. — These appearances con- 

 tinue for days together, when faint airs and calms are ex- 

 perienced between the tropics : the faint airs are generally 

 irregularly felt ; sometimes gentle ; at other times very 

 weak, inclining to calm.— -The surface of the sea to a con- 

 siderable distance around a ship, always appears more ive^makeT^he' 

 smooth at these times, than at greater distances, towards distant sea ap- 

 the horizon ; which often is the cause of belief in an ap- P^^^ roughest. 

 proaching breeze, never realized. 



In low latitudes, when calms and faint airs have been Small medusa 

 experienced for two or three days ; or for a longer period, ^^'^ insects out 

 I have frequently perceived the surface of the ocean have 

 an oily appearance, with minute medusas floating on it in 

 great quantities. — They seemed to be interspersed over the 

 smooth and agitated portions, and not confined to the 

 smooth places. — Small insects, some with, and others 

 without wings, have often been seen skipping on the sur- 

 face of the sea in calm weuther, many degrees distant from 

 land. 



The smooth veins on the surface of the sea are also con- smooth places 

 comitant with rain ; particularly at the commencement of are seen during 



showers, when there are gentle breezes of wind : and *^^^^^*- 



sometimes appear to indicate rain. 



Smooth veins on the surface of the sea prevail to the Other facts res- 

 westward of the Laccadiva Islands, between these and the pecting them. 

 Vol. XV.~Sept. 1806. C Island 



