106 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



235. "Upon the northern coast of Java, the phenomenon of daily 

 land and sea breezes is finely developed. There, as the gorgeous 

 " eye of day" rises almost perpendicularly from the sea with fiery 

 ardor, in a cloudless sky, it is greeted by the volcanoes with a col- 

 umn of white smoke, which, ascending from the conical summits 

 high in the firmament 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 tor- 

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

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

 every thing is refreshed and beautified. Then, under the influ- 

 ence of the glorious accompaniments of the break of day, the si- 

 lence of the night is awakened, and we hear commencing every 

 where the morning hymn of mute nature, whose gesticulation is 

 so expressive and sublime. All that lives feels the necessity of 

 pouring forth, each in its way, and in various tones and accents, 

 from the depths of inspiration, a song of praise. 



236. " 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 every where forces from the 

 soul, it gushes forth in deep earnestness to convey the daily 

 thank-offering over the sea, over hill and dale.f 



237. "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 atmosphere : it 

 sparkles, and glitters, and twinkles, becoming clear under the in- 

 creasing 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. 



238. "Like pleasant visions of the night, tliat pass before the 



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

 smoke ascending at sunrise from Bromo, Ijamongan, and Smiro. Probably there is 

 then 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 pen- 

 etrates for miles with great distinctness. — Jansen. 



