ALEXANDRIA TO COS. 427 
tains, as the shadows increased, appeared close chap. 
to the ship, towering above our top-masts ; the , ^"^' , 
higher parts being covered with snow, or partly 
concealed by thick clouds; the air around us 
becoming every instant more sultry and stag- 
nant. Presently the whole atmosphere was Meteoric 
illuminated. The mountains seemed to vomit ^'^i^"°" 
fire. A pale but vivid lightning darted innu- 
merable flashes over every object, even among 
the masts and rigging. Never surely was such 
a scene elsewhere exhibited! The old Greek 
pilots crossed themselves; but comforted us 
with the assurance that this appearance of the 
kindling elements was common upon this coast ; 
and that it denoted favourable weather. We 
heard little thunder; but streams of living light 
ran continually from the summits of the moun- 
tains towards the sea, and, seeming to separate 
before they reached the water, filled the air 
with coruscations. Since, reflecting upon this 
circumstance as characterizing the coast, it 
seems to explain a fabulous notion which the chimam 
^ or llie 
Antients entertained of the ChimcEra disgorging Autieub. 
flames upon the Lycian territory ', alluded to by 
(l) "In Lycia igitur, ji promontorio ejus oppidum Siniena, »wo«^ 
Chimara noctibus flagrans." Pliii. Hist. Nat. lib. v, c. 27. torn, I. 
jo. 271. L. Bat. 1635. 
