VOYAGE FROM CAPE TOWN TO CHINA. 59 



Scarcely had the sails and port anchor been disposed of 

 than the squall struck the side of the bark with ter- 

 rible force. The starboard anchor was then let go with 

 eighty fathoms of chain. With the squall came a 

 heavy shower of sand and ashes. The atmosphere had 

 become by this time darker than the darkest night. 

 The barometer continued to rise and fall an inch at a 

 time, the wind was blowing a hurricane, and the water 

 was lashed into such a tumultuous motion as can hardly 

 be conceived. A heavy rumbling wnth reports like 

 steadily increasing thunder continued, and the awful 

 blackness overhead was rendered still more appalling by 

 the lurid and fitful lightning that flashed in jagged yet 

 concentric streaks. The captain describes the contrast- 

 ing darkness as the most intense he ever knew, and 

 although it was still daytime there was not enough day- 

 light to see one's own hand. At this time Bezee 

 Island w^as bearing north by west about five or six 

 miles, and Anjier, which witnessed the terrible destruc- 

 tion of land and life caused by the earthquake and 

 eruptions, was in comparative proximity. A stiflmg 

 smell of sulphur permeated the whole atmosphere, 

 making it difficult to do the amount of breathing 

 necessary to sustain consciousness. All the elements 

 of nature seemed to be massed in menacing hostility. I 

 The tide was setting strongly to the west, and the 

 bark rushed along under bare poles at the speed of 14 

 knots an hour. A seaman on account of the darkness 

 walked off the forward house, striking his head on the 



