22 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



The luminous appearance of the sea at night has often been the 

 subject of wonder and reflection. This hght, when excited by the ship 

 rushing through the water, assumes the form of brilliant stars, or round 

 masses of a greenish hue, frequently eighteen inches in diameter. They 

 float by the vessel in every part of the water which her bottom has 

 touched, as deep as the very lowest part of her keel, and form behind 

 her a long and fiery train. At other times, when the breeze is strong 

 and the billows break and foam, the light appears like fields of flashing 

 fire. Twice I have beheld this latter sight in all its glowing splendour ; 

 the water was highly luminous, as far as the eye could reach, and the 

 vessel seemed to be plunging her way over billows of liquid fire. In 

 both instances the night was dark and louring ; and the brilliancy of the 

 water formed a grand but awful contrast with the black concave above 

 us. When day-light returned all this heatless splendour was eclipsed, 

 and the sea exhibited, to a superficial view, only a more dingy colour 

 than usual ; to a more close examination it presented myriads of hemis- 

 pherical bodies of the Medusa tribe. 



I am inclined to believe that the chief cause of this luminous 

 appearance has here been incidentally mentioned, and that it arises 

 from the presence of several kinds of animated beings, which have the 

 power of emitting a phosphorescent light. This is evident from the 

 multitude of them which may be taken out of the sea, and still appear 

 lucid and active. Another great cause may probably be found in the 

 disorganization and putrefaction of animal substances ; this light abound- 

 ing on all beaches where the refuse of large cities is discharged. 

 Perhaps bodies of water may sometimes be collected in particular parts 

 of the ocean, more than usually thronged with small animals possessing 

 this quality of emitting light, or singularly fraught with putrescent 

 particles. Friction, in most cases, seems to assist in the production, if 

 it be not in all essential to the existence of this brilliancy. The slight 

 agitation of the water, occasioned by the action of a steady breeze upon 

 its surface, is often sufficient for the purpose ; and, in cases where plants 

 are taken up inhabited by miiiute animals, exposure to the passing 

 air alone seems to be enough. 



