308 CASTOR AND POLLUX. 



darkness complete, we witnessed the phenome- 

 non known by the name of Castor and Pollux, 

 and which originates in the electricity of the 

 atmosphere ; these were two bright balls of the 

 size which the planet Venus appears to us, and 

 of the same clear light ; we saw them at two 

 distinct periods, which followed quickly upon 

 each other in the same place, that is, some 

 inches below the extreme point of our main- 

 yard, and at about half a foot distance asunder. 

 Their appearance lasted some minutes, and 

 made a great impression on the crew, who did 

 not understand its cause. I must confess, that 

 in the utter darkness, amidst the howling of the 

 storm and the roaring of the water, there was 

 something awful in the sight. 



Our passage was rendered tedious by con- 

 trary winds. On the 22nd of February, we 

 crossed the meridian of the Isle of France, 

 three hundred and forty miles off the island, in 

 very stormy weather, and heard afterwards at 

 St. Helena, that a hurricane raged at this time 

 near the Isle of France, causing great damage 

 to many vessels, and to some of them the loss 

 of their masts. We should have probably 



