TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



117 



the little vessel was confided, between the two hemi- 

 spheres and in the middle of the vast ocean, could 

 not fail in the moment when the transubstantiation 

 was announced by the sound of the drum, pro- 

 foundly to affect every mind, but particularly those 

 who then reflected on the power of Providence in na- 

 ture, and on the mysterious metaiporphosis of all 

 things. The day passed over quietly with a con- 

 stant S.E. wind ; even Neptune and his strange 

 retinue were not allowed to excite a disturbance 

 on board the ship, by the usual ceremony of bap- 

 tising those who crossed the line for the first time. 

 The night was bright and clear ; the poles of the 

 heavens were already resting on the horizon, and 

 the full moon hung above our heads in glorious 

 majesty; Vega, Arcturus, Spica, Scorpio, in which 

 Jupiter just then shone, and the feet of the Centaur, 

 were bright in the firmament ; the southern Cross 

 had attained a perpendicular position indicating the 

 hour of midnight, when, according to calculation 

 we were at the place where heaven and earth 

 were in equilibrium, and crossing the equator 

 steered into the southern hemisphere. With what 

 ardent hopes, with what inexpressible feelings did 

 we enter this other half of the world, which was to 

 present us with an abundance of new scenes and 

 discoveries ! Yes, this moment was the most 

 solemn and sacred in our lives. In it we saw the 

 longings of earlier years accomplished, and, with 

 pure joy and enthusiastic foreboding, indulged iq 



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