TIDE-r.IPS AND SEA DRIFT. 385 



it was about the size of a large hair, and tapered at the ends. 

 By bringing one end within about one-fourth of an inch of a 

 lighted lamp, the flame was attracted towards it, and burned with 

 a red light ; the substance crisped in burning something like a 

 hair, or appeared of a red heat before being consumed. In a 

 glass of the water there were several small round substances 

 (say xVth of an inch in diameter), which had the power of expand- 

 ing to more than twice their ordinary size, and then contracting 

 again ; when expanded, the outer rim appeared like a circular 

 saw, only that the teeth pointed towards the centre. This patch 

 of white water was about 23 miles in length, north and south, 

 divided near its centre by an irregular strip of dark water half a 

 mile wide ; its east and west extent I can say nothing about. 

 I have seen what is called white water in about all the known 

 oceans and seas in the world, but nothing that would compare 

 with this in extent or whiteness. Although we were going at the 

 rate of nine knots, the ship made no noise either at the bow or 

 stern. The whole appearance of the ocean was like a plain 

 covered with snow. There was scarce a cloud in the heavens, 

 yet the sky, for about ten degrees above the horizon, appeared 

 as black as if a storm was raging ; the stars of the first magnitude 

 shone with a feeble light, and the ' Milky Way ' of the heavens 

 was almost entirely eclipsed by that through which we were 

 sailing. The scene was one of awful grandeur ; the sea having 

 turned to phosphorus, and the heavens being hung in blackness, 

 and the stars going out, seemed to indicate that all nature was 

 preparing for that last grand conflagration which we are taught 

 to believe is to annihilate this material world. After passing 

 through the patch, we noticed that the sky, for four or five 

 degrees above the horizon, was considerably illuminated, something 

 like a faint aurora borealis. We soon passed out of sight of the 

 whole concern, and had a fine night, without any conflagration 

 (except of midnight oil in trying to find out what was in the 

 water). I send you this because I believe you request your corps of 

 * one thousand assistants ' to furnish you with all such items, and I 

 trust it will be acceptable. But as to its furnishing you with much, 

 if any, information relative to the insects or animals that inhabit 

 the mighty deep, time will only tell ; I cannot think it will." 



7-i7. These discolourations are no doubt caused by organisms 



^'hence the Red Sea of the sca, but whether wholly animal or wholly 



derives its name, vegetable, or whether sometimes the one and some- 



2 



