104 THE CBUISE OF THE "CACHALOT." 



dull indeed not to have seen how unique were the oppor- 

 tunities I was now enjoying for observation of some of 

 the least known and understood aspects of the ocean 

 world and its wonderful inhabitants, to say nothing of 

 visits to places unvisited, except by such free lances as 

 we were, and about which so little is really known. 



The weather of the Mozambique Channel was fairly 

 good, although subject to electric storms of the most 

 terrible aspect, but perfectly harmless. On the second 

 evening after rounding Cape St. Mary, we were proceed- 

 ing, as usual, under very scanty sail, rather enjoying the 

 mild, balmy air, scent-laden, from Madagascar. The 

 moon was shining in tropical splendour, paling the 

 lustre of the attendant stars, and making the glorious 

 Milky Way but a faint shadow of its usual resplendent 

 road. Gradually from the westward there arose a murky 

 mass of cloud, fringed at its upper edges with curious 

 tinted tufts of violet, orange, and crimson. These 

 colours were not brilliant, but plainly visible against 

 the deep blue sky. Slowly and solemnly the intruding 

 gloom overspread the sweet splendour of the shining 

 sky, creeping like a death-shadow over a dear face, and 

 mating the most talkative feel strangely quiet and ill at 

 ease. As the pall of thick darkness blotted out the cool 

 light, it seemed to descend until at last we were com- 

 pletely over-canopied by a dome of velvety black, seem- 

 ingly low enough to touch the mast-heads. A belated 

 sea-bird's shrill scream but emphasized the deep silence 

 which 'ent itself befittingly to the solemnity of nature. 

 Presently thin suggestions of light, variously tinted, 

 began to thread the inky mass. These grew brighter and 

 more vivid, until at last, in fantastic contortions, they 

 appeared to rend the swart concave asunder, revealing 



