Luminousness of the Sea, 309 



is to be seen upon our own shores, and in our own seas ; but 

 though we agree with the celebrated Muller, in the beautiful 

 introduction to his Commentarius de Monoculis, " Non mutan- 

 dum coelum, non trajicienda maria, non petenda et vitae et 

 pecuniarum dispendio, loca remotissima, ut invisa, ut inaudita 

 inquiramus ; ipsa litora vicina, ipsa patria tellus, lacus, stagna, 

 rivi, quid quod vada et quaevis palustria domestica, mirando- 

 rum feracia existunt." * Still it is in warmer regions and 

 more southernly latitudes, that this phenomenon attains its 

 greatest degree of brilliancy and beauty. In these situations 

 it is impossible not to be struck with astonishment, wonder, 

 and delight, at the scenes which are frequently exhibited to 

 the eyes of them " that go down to the sea in ships." At one 

 time, the evening serene and delightful, a pleasant breeze just 

 filling the sails, and the bow of the vessel throwing the water 

 to each side, as it gracefully parts the yielding waves, all 

 round the ship, far as the eye can reach, may be seen innu- 

 merable bright spots of light, rising to the surface, and again 

 disappearing, like a host of small stars dancing and sparkling 

 on the bosom of the sea. At another time, the night dark and 

 lowering, a fresh breeze urging the ship rapidly onwards 

 through her pathless track, upon looking over the stern, in 

 addition to the smaller specks just now mentioned, large 

 globes of living fire may be seen wheeling and dancing in the 

 smooth water in the wake of the rudder; now, at a great 

 depth shining through the water, then rising rapidly to the 

 surface, they may be seen, as they reach the top of the wave, 

 flashing a bright spark of light, sufficient almost to dazzle the 

 eyes of the beholder ; and now again they may be traced 

 floating majestically along, till they gradually disappear in 

 the darkness of the water in the distance. At other times, 

 again, when light rain is falling, or, perhaps previously 

 to the rain coming on, when a light nimbose cloud is over- 

 spreading the sky, upon the water being agitated by the ship 

 passing through it, or curled up by a rope towing overboard 

 in a bight, a beautiful general luminousness is diffused all 

 round, bright enough to illuminate the whole ship's side, and 

 the lower large sails which may be set at the time : and it is 

 no unusual occurrence to have this appearance so bright, that 

 a person with little difficulty, and near the surface of the 

 water, might be enabled to read a book by its aid. 



* " Climes are not to be changed, seas to be crossed, nor the remotest 

 lands to be sought at the expense of life and fortune, that we may search 

 out things unheard of and unseen ; the bordering shore, our native land, 

 lakes, ponds, rivers, every ford and every neighbouring marsh abounds in 

 wonders." 



