100 FISH. 



on Styx for waftage. Our visit appeared highly 

 satisfactory, every boat tossed us herrings on 

 board, until we were obliged to refuse further 

 largess ; and these many ' trifles of fish ' accumu- 

 lated so rapidly that we eventually declined re- 

 ceiving other compliments, or we might have 

 loaded the gig gunwale deep. The darkness of 

 the night increased the scaly brilliancy which the 

 phosphoric properties of these beautiful fish pro- 

 duce. The bottom of the boat, now covered with 

 herrings, glowed with a living light which the 

 imagination could not create and the pencil never 

 imitate. The shades of gold and silvery gems 

 were rich beyond description, and, much as I had 

 heard of phosphoric splendour before, every idea 

 I had formed fell infinitely short of its reality. 

 The same care with which we entered disem- 

 barrassed us of the midnight fishery. Every boat 

 we passed pressed hard to throw in a cast of 

 skuddawns (herrings) for the strange gentleman, 

 and such was the kindness of these hospitable 

 creatures, that, had I been a very Behemoth, I 

 should have this night feasted to satiety on their 

 bounty. 



" The wind, which had been asleep, began now 



