EED FOGS AND SEA BREEZES. 143 



in tho nnfathomable ocean affords a great contrast to the seeming 

 quiet of the gentl^'-flowing, aerial current of the land breeze. 

 But at times, when, 30° or 40° above the horizon, a fire-ball 

 arises which suddenly illumines the whole horizon, appearing to 

 the eye the size of the fist, and fading away as suddenly as it ap- 

 peared, falling into fiery nodules, then we perceive that, in the 

 apparent calm of nature, various forces are constantly active, in 

 order to cause, even in the invisible air, such combinations and 

 combustions, the appearance 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 traveller 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 presence 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 sensations arise 

 which are produced by the clear yet sad light of the moon ? she 

 who has always gieat tears in her eyes, while the stars look 

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

 fliction.j In the latter part of the night the land breeze sinks to 

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

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

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



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

 these sparks were then seen six feet above the deck, upon the frames of timber 

 {Jcoussen der hlohken), in the implements, etc. — Jansex. 



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

 more dew falls than at new moon, and to this are ascribed tlie moonhciids 

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

 which I have spent between the tropics. — Jansen. 



