238 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
metto-ti-ee, which had loomed so largely that all were astonished 
at the deception. 
A most beautiful and perfectly-defined circle appeared round 
the sun this morning, of a dark cloudy colour, with its edges' 
tinged with the brightest yellow and pink. Some say that this 
phenomenon is indicative of a gale. Such an appearance around 
the moon, we believe, is always considered, both by seamen and 
landsmen, as the precursor or premonitory symptom of an im- 
pending storm. Thus Falconer, in his beautiful nautical poem 
of the Shipwreck — (a dreadful disaster, in which the poet himself 
was a participator and one of the few survivors) — describes the^ 
phenomenon alluded to in the following lines : — 
" The waning moon, behind a watery shroud, 
Pale glimmered o'er the long protracted cloud 
A mighty ring around her silver throne, 
With parting meteors cross'd, portentous shone ; 
This in the troubled sky full oft prevails, 
Oft deemed a signal of tempestuous gales." 
By noon, Prince's Island was close aboard, and the Island of 
Crockatoa began faintly to pencil its outlines on the distant 
horizon. About four P. M., the wind hauled aft, and directly into 
the strait. The frigate was now standing up the passage, before 
the wind, with yards across, and the breeze fresh, moving at the 
rate of twelve knots, all steering sails set, and the water foaming 
and curling around her bows. The ship's band was playing in a 
lively and animating style. Every officer and man was at his 
post on deck, land was in view on every side, comprising some 
of the most picturesque landscapes in nature. On the left, the • 
great Island of Sumatra was-expanding her arms as if to meet the ' 
similar advances of her neighbour Java, while a numerous progeny 
of lovely little islands were smiling between them — the clouds 
above, at the same time, arched with several rainbows, the effect 
of different squalls. In one word, the coup-d^ceil of ihe picture ' 
was beautiful beyond description ; and though perhaps not equal 
in grandeur and subUmity to the mountain scenery which sur- 
rounds and enriches the view at Rio Janeiro, yet in softness, 
gayety, and mellowness of appearance, it is not inferior to that 
or any other in the world. 
Our frigate had now fairly entered this highly interesting pas- 
