2l8 



The beautiful appearance of the iris reft- 

 ing in a number of fmall circles upon the fur- 

 face of the ocean, alfo frequently attraded 

 our notice. Thefe were only feen near the 

 fliip, and it will occur to you that they 

 arofe from the minute particles of water, beat 

 off by the velTel, dividing the rays of light, 

 and caufing them to fall upon the fea in the 

 form of rich and diftindt rainbows. They 

 arc often extremely brilliant, and are feen, 

 as it were, lying in numbers upon the 

 water. 



' The very beautiful rifing and fetting of 

 the fun and the moon were the frequent 

 and admired fubjeds of our contemplation. 

 Viewed from a Weft India fea, the furface of 

 thefe orbs does not appear, like a mere plane 

 fixed in the heavens, as in Europe, but their 

 convexity, and globular form are feen very 

 diftin<3:ly. When rifing they appear as de- 

 tached globes protruding from the deep: at 

 fetting they refemble diftindl fpheres finking, 

 or rather dropping, divefted of their rays, 

 into the ocean. 



