43 



and llie light of il was broadly diHy^ed, and not in fitreaks.* 

 The poet truly lays, " 55 ~F ^ ^ Jl] § If you want 

 to see wondcrsj you must juBt go to sea." 



^ THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. 



The Dutch, wishing to extend their territories and enlarge 

 their colouiea, once despatched four ships, with three yeara 

 provisions on board, to go towards the southern ocean, in 

 search of new countries. Thus they sailed towards the 

 south, and proceeded to the limits of all known tcgion», un- 

 til they saw no more laud ; «i,nd after having been out a year 

 and more, they came to a very dark place^ where fogs en- 

 vebped their ships, so that they could not diitinguigh the aea 

 from the sky. Poisonous fiflhea and strange birds than came 

 about them, wUhoul ahewing the least sign of fear. The 

 sun and moon afforded no light ; while the days weie short- 

 ened to fire or six hours, and the nights rendered propor- 

 tionably lon^. Terrified and alarmed they returned, and 

 arrived at Bdtavin : but ofthe four vestels belonging to tlie 

 expedition, only two came safe to port.f 



MECCi. BOK-KA), called AL^O THB aESIDl£2?CB 



OP BUD0HA. 



On the shores of the western sea, is the residence of the 

 true Buddha : the hills are extremely high, and the whole 

 ground is Tepleniahed with yellow gold and beautiful gema \ 

 which are guarded by a "p" |^ hundred genii, bo that the 

 treasures cannot be taken away. The true cultivators of 

 virtue may ascend to Mecca, and worsliip the real Buddha, 

 when after several yeafa fasting they rBturn, and receive 

 the title of dnkun ^ lo^kwun). or doctor ; ihey can 

 then fjl^ bring down spirits, and fft aubduc mons- 

 terSj §^ jfP drive away noxious influences, and be- 



• The flottlh coftBt of Borneo in rery mucli impregnated wiLk sul- 

 phuret of antioaony , wbicb perhaps &ttcacta the lightning, and produces 

 the ItiriJ appearance above referred to- 



\ This refers probably to the expedition of Van Die ma a. 



