A GREAT SEA- WAVE. 231 



hours. Doubtless the different depths of water, the 

 irregular conformation of the island-groups, and other 

 like circumstances, were principally concerned in pro- 

 ducing these singular variations. Yet they do not 

 seem fully sufficient to account for so wide a range of 

 difference. Possibly a cause yet unnoticed may have 

 had something to do with the peculiarity. In waves 

 of such enormous extent, it would be quite impossible 

 to determine whether the course of the wave-motion 

 was directed full upon a line of shore or more or less 

 obliquely. It is clear that in the former case the 

 waves would seem to follow each other more swiftly 

 than in the latter, even though there were no difference 

 in their velocity. 



Far on beyond the shores of New Zealand the great 

 wave coursed, reaching at length the coast of Australia. 

 At dawn of August 14th, Moreton Bay was visited by 

 five well-marked waves. At Newcastle, on the Hunter 

 Kiver, the sea rose and fell several times in a remark- 

 able manner, the oscillatory motion commencing at 

 half-past six in the morning. But the most significant 

 evidence of the extent to which the sea-wave travelled 

 in this direction was afforded at Port Fairy, Belfast, 

 South Victoria. Here the oscillation of the water was 

 distinctly perceived at mid-day on August 14th ; and 

 yet, to reach this point, the sea-wave must not only 

 have travelled on a circuitous course nearly equal in 

 length to half the circumference of the earth, but must 



