so Ocean between Europe and America. 



bird of the pa/ferine clafs, endeavoured to take 

 fhelter and reft on our fhip. 



BEFORE I entirely take leave of the fea, I will 

 communicate my 6bfervations on two curious 

 phenomena. 



IN the channel and in the ocean we faw, at 

 night-time, fparks of. fire, as if flowing on the 

 water, efpecially where it was agitated, fome- 

 times one fingle fpark fwam for the fpace of more 

 than one minute on the ocean before it vanifhed. 

 The failors obferved them commonly to appear 

 during, and after a ftorm from the north, and 

 that often the fea is as if it were full of fire, and 

 that fome fuch mining fparks would likewife 

 flick to the marts and fails. 



SOMETIMES this light had not the appearance 

 of fparks, but looked rather like the phofpho- 

 refcence of putrid wood. 



THE Thames water which made our provifion 

 of frefh water, is reputed to be the beft of any. 

 It not only fettled in the oak cafks it is kept in, 

 but becomes in a little time {linking, when flop- 

 ped up ; however, this naufeous Imell it foon 

 lofes, after being filled into large flone jugs, 

 and expofed to the open frefh air for two or three 

 hours together. Often the vapours arifing from 

 a calk which has been kept clofe and flopped up 

 for a great while take fire, if a candle is held near 

 them when the cafk is opened ; and the Thames 

 Water is thought to have more of this quality 

 than any other ; though I was told that this even 

 happened with any other water in the fame cir- 

 cumflances. 



Now I can refume my narrative, and there- 

 fore 



