118 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL 



the foretaste of a new world so rich in the wonders 

 of nature. 



It was not till we had passed the equator, that 

 the constant S. E. wind began to equal in strength 

 the N.E. wind of the northern hemisphere. Vio- 

 lent rains were less frequent, but in their stead 

 insulated groups of clouds of various forms were 

 piled up in the blue ether. The nights, on the 

 other hand, were more serene, and the southern 

 constellations, new to us pilgrims from the north, 

 though far inferior in number and splendour to 

 those of the north, shone brightly in the azure fir- 

 mament. Falling stars illumined the night more 

 frequently than in the northern zone, and generally 

 fell towards midnight in the south, and towards 

 morning in the north-east. The temperature of 

 the water, still more that of the air, appeared to be- 

 come considerably lower than in the same northern 

 latitude, but the moisture of the air, and the phos- 

 phorescence and gravity of the sea- water began to 

 increase. Our frigate rapidly cut the deep blue 

 waves of the southern ocean, which, as they dashed 

 against the stern, fell, on cloudy days, in numerous 

 rainbows, or in the night, filled with countless 

 luminous animals {Noctlluca oceanica noh,\ shone 

 like sparkling fire. Here, too, as in the northern 

 torrid zone, swarms of flying-fish flew around, and 

 the swifl tunny-fish kept pace with our vessel. 

 The sun appearing in a glow of red behind thick 

 mists, or the pale moon, afforded us a majestic 



