THE BAY OF MANILLA. 51 



the beauty of this luminous effect is seen to the greatest 

 advantage when the ship, lying in a bay or harbour in 

 tropical climates, the water around has the appearance 

 of a sea of milk. An opportunity was afforded me when 

 at Cavite, near Manilla, in 1830, of witnessing, for the 

 first time, this beautiful scene. As far as the eye could 

 reach over the extensive bay of Manilla, the surface of 

 the tranquil water was one sheet of this dull pale phos- 

 phorescence ; and brilliant flashes were emitted instantly 

 on any heavy body being cast into the water, or when 

 fish sprang from it, or swam about. The ship seemed, 

 on looking over its side, to be anchored in a sea of 

 liquid phosphorus, whilst in the distance, the resemblance 

 was that of an ocean of milk. The night to which I 

 allude, when this magnificent appearance presented it- 

 self to my observation, was exceedingly dark, which by 

 the contrast gave an increased sublimity to the scene." 

 To read by this phosphoric light " is possible, but not 

 agreeable ; and on an attempt being made, it is almost 

 always found that the eyes will not endure the peculiar 

 light for any length of time, as headaches and sickness 

 are often occasioned by it." 



The causes to which the luminosity of the sea is 

 owing have, from time to time, excited much specula- 

 tion among naturalists, and various experiments have 



