214 BEAUTY OF THE TROPICAL NIGHT. 



we have frequently seen large clumps of these giant 

 grasses, standing aloft, motionless in the brilliant 

 moonlight, looking exactly like the spectral forms of 

 some gigantic fern, with overarching fronds, bending 

 towards the earth their stems rising out of the im- 

 penetrable blackness of the shadow cast by them upon 

 the ground beneath. 



Tropical vegetation of all kinds, but especially palms 

 and bamboos, are always seen to the best advantage 

 on such occasions ; and probably at no other time does 

 Nature present so perfect a picture of complete and 

 dignified repose. During the great heats of the day, 

 the uprising of heated and rarefied atmosphere from the 

 earth's surface generally produces a draught of air 

 that feels more or less refreshing to the jaded senses, 

 and not unfrequently amounts to a pleasant breeze; 

 but except during the prevalence of heavy rain-storms, 

 as soon as the sun goes down, and the heated 

 ground begins to cool, this grateful draught of air is 

 apt to die away, and then these perfectly still moments 

 of which we have spoken, accompany the closing in 

 of darkness, and the gradual appearance of the brightly 

 shining stars whose lustrous glory fills the tropical night 

 with splendour. 



There is also generally another short interval of a 

 similar kind, just before and accompanying the dawn, 

 which follows the withdrawal of the nocturnal birds, 

 beasts, and insects, whose sounds at this time become 

 silent, in anticipation of the general awakening of Nature 

 which succeeds the rising of the great luminary of 

 the day. At these times a stillness prevails which 

 may almost be felt: not a leaf is in motion, and the 

 quiescence of Nature is complete. 



