256 WHALING AND FISHING. 



days sailing through water more limpid, and 

 a sky more clear, and breezes more genial and 

 soft than even those which had been vouchsafed 

 ns during the passage, brought us to the narrow 

 mouth of Port Louis harbor. 



Who shall attempt to describe the glories of $ 

 landfall in the tropics? My pen is not adequate to 

 a delineation of the beauteous boldness with which 

 the outlines of the volcanic peaks are thrown in 

 deep, deep blue against the distant horizon, or the 

 glorious golden effulgence in which they are envel- 

 oped as the sun sets behind them. And who can 

 do justice to the serene purity of the air ; its genial 

 mildness both night and day ; the absence of harsh- 

 ness in every movement of the sea, as it sweeps in 

 peaceful undulations toward the setting sun ? 



The breeze which fans the dreamer's brow comes 

 as though some one laid his hand in kindness there. 

 The waves which break under the bow, break 

 softly. The spray which ever and anon falls upon 

 deck, falls in refreshing showers. The wind which 

 fills the sails blows gently; and the very ship seems, 

 in unison with the scene, to glide along over the 

 waves, no longer meeting and cleaving the waters 

 with the stubborn shock of enemies in battle, but 

 parting them asunder softly, as some good natured 

 giant would make his way through a crowd of 

 little children. The sabbath stillness is broken 

 only by the harsh scream of the tropic bird as on 

 snow white wing he sweeps past, landward, of 

 darts beneath the wave in search of prey. 



