6 
TEADE WINDS. 
iiig to the naturalist, and so beautiful that they are 
regarded with pleasure even by unscientific ob- 
servers. The forms of life which may be drawn up ^ 
from the depths of the sea are infinitely varied. At 
night countless luminous creatures were seen glint- 
ing and sparkling in its black depths. Nothing can 
be conceived more capricious than their vagaries as 
they dart hither and thither. To the inquirer into 
the more recondite secrets of nature these phosphor- 
escent creatures are no less interesting than are the 
grander luminaries above to the astronomer. The 
sea-faring man, however, naturally regards with, 
more reverence the moon, the stars, the constella- 
tions of the firmament above, as these are his silent 
companions in his midnight watches, and form his 
guides across the trackless wastes of ocean. 
AVc were now in the region of the trade winds, of 
which we took advantage. A steady breeze always 
filled our sails, which hardly ever required to be 
trimmed. Our noble vessel, under the influence of 
the favouring breeze, made rapid progress, and we 
were all in the best of spirits. How could it be 
