192 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OP&S. 



About the equator, where there is no variety of 

 seasons, the moon rises, with the greatest regularity, 

 about forty-nine minutes later every day than on the 

 preceding; but as we advance north or south from 

 that line, and get in a more variable climate, the lit- 

 tle difference in the rising of the Harvest Moon be- 

 comes more perceptible. At the polar circles, where 

 the mild season is very precarious, and of short du- 

 ration at that advanced season of the year, the au- 

 tumnal full-moon rises at sunset, from the first till 

 the third quarter; and, at the poles, where the sun 

 is half a year below the horizon, the winter full-moon 

 shines constantly from the first to the third quarter. 



In these respects the moon, that faithful compa- 

 nion and attendant on the earth, may be said to pro- 

 portion her services to the emergency of the occa- 

 sion ; but even in the ordinary aid she affords, in the 

 absence of sunshine, her influences are of infinite ad- 

 vantage. The Hebrews, the Greeks, the Romans, 

 and. indeed, the ancients in general were wont to 

 assemble, at the time of the new moon, to discharge 

 the duties of gratitude and devotion. The oldest 

 measure of time, taken from the revolutions of the 

 heavenly bodies, is supposed to be a month; and 

 when the king of the Felew Islands entrusted his 

 son to the care of Captain Wilson, he inquired how 

 many moons would elapse before he might expect 

 his return. 



By the dark, opaque, and unequal surface of the 

 moon, the light of the sun is reflected to the earth, 

 after thai superb and glorious luminary has left our 



