§321. RED FOGS AND SEA BREEZES. I37 



fathomable ocean affords a great contrast to the seeming quiet of 

 the gently-flowing, aerial current of the land-breeze. But at times, 

 when, 30*^ or 40° above the horizon, a fire-ball arises which sud- 

 denly illumines the whole horizon, appearing to the eye the size 

 of the fist, and fading away as suddenly as it appeared, ifalling into 

 fiery nodules, then we perceive that, in the apparent calm of na- 

 ture, various forces are constantly active, in order to cause, even 

 in the invisible air, such combinations and combustions, the ap- 

 pearance of which amazes the crews of ships. When the slender 

 keel glides quickly over the mirrored waters upon the wings of 

 the wind, it cuts for itself a sparkling way, and disturbs in their 

 sleep the monsters of the deep, which whirl and dart quicker than 

 an eight-knot ship ; sweeping and turning around their disturber, 

 they suddenly clothe the dark surface of the water in brilliancy. 

 Again, when we go beyond the limits of the land-breeze, and come 

 into the continuous trade-wind, we occasionally see from the low- 

 moving, round black clouds (unless it thunders), light blue sparks 

 collected upon the extreme points of the iron belaying-pins, etc. ;* 

 then the crew appear to fear a new danger, against which courage 

 is unavailing, and which the mind can find no power to endure. 

 The fervent, fiery nature inspires the traveler with deep awe. 

 They who, under the beating of the storm and terrible violence 

 of the ocean, look danger courageously in the face, feel, in the pres- 

 ence of these phenomena, insignificant, feeble, anxious. Then they 

 perceive the mighty power of the Creator over the works of his 

 creation. And how can the uncertain, the undetermined sensa- 

 tions arise which are produced by the clear yet sad light of the 

 moon ? she who has always great tears in her eyes, while the stars 

 look sweetly at her, as if they loved to trust her and to share her 

 affliction.f In the latter part of the night the land-breeze sinks 

 to sleep, for it seldom continues to blow with strength, but is al- 

 ways fickle and capricious. With the break of day it again 

 awakes, to sport a while, and then gradually dies away as the sun 



* I have seen this in a remarkable degree upon the south coast of Java ; the^^c 

 sparks were then seen six feet above the deck, upon the frames of timber {koussen dtr 

 hlokken), in the implements, etc. — Jansen. 



t Some one has ventured the remark that at full moon, near the equator, more 

 and darker dew falls than at new moon, and to this are ascribed the moonheads (tnaan 

 hoofden), which I have seen, however, but once during all the years which I have 

 sjrnt between the tropics. — Jansen. 



