46 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



ing towards us ; it was propelled by a very flrong 

 wind, which furrowed the .waves ; we faw our- 

 9 iurrounded by a fea of fire, and we then 

 enjoyed the fight of one of the moll brilliant 

 phenomena of nature. It did not- lait long; 

 but, during the reft of the night, the fea was 

 much more luminous than ordinary in all the 

 places where it was agitated, particularly in the 

 wake of the fhip, and towards the top of the waves. 



The violence of the fquall had compelled us 

 to lower the topfails, and even to bear up, foe 

 fear of being taken aback. 



The heat had been oppreffive during the 

 whole day. We were abreaft of the opening 

 of the immenfe gulf which forms the bight of 

 the countries of Upper Guinea, the coait of 

 which extends near three hundred myriameters 

 to the eaft ward. 



The fea is far more phofphoric in the vicinity 

 of the coafts which 1 icr under the tropics than 

 any where elfe; nature having there diftributed 

 with greater profufion the animalcules on which 

 its phofphorefcence depends, as I have had occa- 

 sion to remark in teas very diftant from each 

 r : I (hall prefently give a few details re- 

 fpecling this phenomenon. 



As wc were placed to leeward of this gulf, 

 the currents had thence brought the luminous 

 kodi. h arc there extremely numerous; 



but 



