RED FOGS AND SEA BREEZES. 1D7 



developed. There, as the gorgeous 'eye of day' rises ahiiost 

 perpendicularly from the sea with fiery ardour, in a cloudless 

 sky, it is greeted by the volcanoes with a column of white smoke, 

 which, ascending from the conical summits high in the firma- 

 ment above, forms a crown, 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, fur- 

 nishes, with its fresh breath, so much enjoyment to the inhabit- 

 ants of that sultry belt of the earth, for, by means of it, every- 

 thing 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 commencing everj^where the 

 morning hymn of mute nature, whose gesticulation is so expres- 

 sive and sublime. All that lives feels the necessity of pouring"; 

 forth, each in its wa}', and in various tones and accents, from the 

 depths of inspiration, a song of praise. The air, still filled with 

 the freshness of the evening dew, bears aloft the enraptured 

 song, as, mingled with the jubilee tones which the contemplation 

 of nature everywhere forces from the soul, it gushes forth in 

 deep earnestness to convey the daily thank-offering over the sea,. 

 over hill and dale.f As the sun ascends the sky, the azure vault 

 is bathed in dazzling 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 stillness of the calm. But not so with the atmo- 

 sphere : it sparkles, and glitters, and twinkles, becoming clear 

 tinder the increasing heat, while the gentle swelling of the now 

 polished waves reflects, like a thousand mirrors, the rays of light 

 which dance and leap to the tremulous but vertical movements 

 of the atmosphere. Like pleasant visions of the night, that pass 

 before the mind in sleep, so do sweet phantoms hover about the 

 land breeze as it slumbers upon the sea. The shore seems to 

 approach and to display all its charms to the mariner in the 

 offing. All objects become distinct and more clearly delineated, t 



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

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

 there is no wind above. — Jansen. 



f 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 mihs with great distinctness. — Jansen, 



X The transparency of the atmosphere is so great that we can somethues 

 discover Venus in the sky in the middle of the day. — Jansen. 



