RED FOGS A>:D SEA BREEZES. 131 



directed. I was involuntarily led from one research to another, 

 and it is the result of these investigations to vfhich I would 

 modestly give a place at the conclusion of Maury's Physical Geo- 

 graphy of the Sea, mth the hope that these first-fruits of the log- 

 books of the Netherlands may be speedily followed by more and 

 better. Upon the northern coast of Java, the phenomenon of 

 daily land and sea breezes is finely developed. There as the gor- 

 geous ' eye of day ' rises almost perpendicularly from the sea with 

 fiery ardom', in a cloudless sky, it is greeted by the volcanoes mth a 

 coliunn of wliite smoke, which, ascending from the conical summits 

 high in the fii'mament above, forms a croTSTi, or assumes the shape 

 of an immense bouquet,* that they seem to offer to the dawn ; then 

 the joyful land breeze plays over the flood, which, in the torrid 

 zone, furnishes, with its fresh breath, so much enjoyment to the 

 inhabitants of that sultry belt of the earth, for, by means of it, 

 everything is refreshed and beautified. Then, under the influence 

 of the glorious accompaniments of the break of day, the silence of 

 the night is awakened, and we hear commencmg everywhere the 

 mornmg hymn of mute natm^e, whose gesticulation is so expressive 

 and sublime. All that hves feels the necessity of pom^ing forth, 

 each in its way, and in various tones and accents, from- the depths 

 of inspiration, a song of praise. The ah', stiU filled with the fresh- 

 ness of the evening dew, bears aloft the enraptm'ed song, as, 

 mingled with the jubilee tones which the contemplation of natm-e 

 everywhere forces from the soul, it gushes forth in deep earnest- 

 ness to convey the daily thank-ofiermg over the sea, over hill and 

 dale.t As the sun ascends the sky, the azm^e vault is bathed in 

 dazzhng light ; now the land breeze, wearied with play, goes to 

 rest. Here and there it still plays over the water, as if it could 

 not sleep ; but finally becoming exhausted, it sinks to repose in the 

 stilhiess of the calm. But not so ^^ith the atmosphere : it sparkles, 

 and glitters, and tmnkles, becoming clear under the increasing 

 heat, while the gentle swelling of the now polished waves reflects, 

 like a thousand min^ors, the rays of light which dance and lea]) to 

 the tremulous but vertical movements of the atmosphere. Like 

 pleasant visions of the night, that pass before the mind in sleep, so 



* Upon the coast of Java I saw daily, during the east monsoon, such, a column 

 of smoke ascending at sunrise from feromo, Lamongan, and Smiro. Probably 

 there is no wind above.— Jansen. 



t In the very fine mist of the morning, a noise — for example, the firing of 

 cannon — at a short distance is scarcely heard, while at midday, with the sea- 

 breeze, it penetrates for miles with great distinctness. — Jansen, 



K 2 



