Fata Morgana a,t Gibraltar. 217 



The same appearance of fog, and of the same height, now stretch- 

 ed in a curved line quite across the straits, beginning at Apes' hill 

 and ending at Europa point. At a, one third of the way across, 

 was a merchant brig, with lower and top-gallant studding-sails set : 

 it was steering eastward, and was about twenty-five miles distant 

 from us;* over it was an inverted image of itself, the two tops ap- 

 proaching as near as in the above lines. At h. was a two-masted 

 vessel, with its side toward us : its two sets of sails, and also its in- 

 verted image above, were very distinct to the naked eye ; a, and its 

 image were also clearly seen without the glass. This was the state 

 of things at 1 h. 1 m. P. M. 



At 1 h. 7 m- the image of h, very distinct, but the original is dim. 

 c, as before. 



At 1 h. 10 m. the image of 6, easily seen, but the original has en- 

 tirely disappeared, a, as before. With a glass 1 can now see an 

 inverted vessel at c, but none below it. 



At 1 h. 13 m. 6, very distinct above, and the lower vessel again 

 visible, a as before. 



At 1 h. 18 m. At 5, both the lower and upper vessels have disap- 

 peared ; also the upper one at a ; and c has grown very dim. 



At 1 h. 21 m. the inverted vessel above a, has not reappeared, 

 but considerably on its right are three inverted vessels, (probably c, 

 the image of h, and a new image) ; they are thin and airy-like, but 

 very distinct, and their outline is very well defined ; only the images 

 are seen. 



At 1 h. 23 m. the inverted vessel over a, has reappeared, and can 

 be seen with the naked eye. The fog is beginning to grow very 

 thin, and its upper line is becoming indistinct, but the four inverted 

 ships are as distinct as before. 



At 1 h. 27 m. the inverted vessel over a, has again disappeared : 

 the other three remain as before. 



♦ I give you the opinion of an old quarter-master as respects the distance, hav- 

 ing more confidence in his judgment than my own. 



Vol. XXIX.— No. 2. 28 



