SUNRISE. 79 



scarcely a ripple on the mirror-like surface of the 

 channel of Corfu, and a fine, invigorating fresh- 

 ness in the atmosphere, so agreeable after the 

 dull and melancholy haze of the heavy and ener- 

 vating sirocco. 



Meanwhile, we proceed on our way, and the 

 sun begins to extend his rays, tinging with a 

 faint pink, first the convent on St. Salvatore's* 

 Peak, next Santa Decca and the other high 

 grounds of the island, then the bold rocks of the 

 citadel, and lastly, the whole of the unrippled 

 surface of the channel itself, which, just before 

 the bright orb of day himself appears above the 

 bold mountains which as yet conceal him from 

 our view, is suddenly and magically illumined 

 with a bright yet delicate blaze of crimson light, 

 the effect of the greater refrangibility of the red 

 rays. 



On a sudden, some inexperienced eye observes 

 a tract of land to the south, which he imagines 

 to be part of the island of Corfu. Attempts are 

 in vain made to undeceive him ; he will insist 

 that it is part of Corfu, although assured that it 

 is the island of Santa Maura, seventy miles dis- 



* A mountain in Corfu, 2,980 feet high. 



