'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎212] (321/496)

212 .
very zenith; and at last, the whole, gradually merging into a deep crmi«
son, imparted to the glossy ocean such a tinge that it resembled a burn
ing fiery lake. As night advanced, these brilliant colors became fainter
and fainter, the fleecy nebulae lost their romantic forms, until at last
4i the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples,
* A soon dissolved, and, like the baseless fabric of a vision, left not a
“ wreck behind.” Never shall I forget the impression this sublime
scene left on my mind, and, as I stood gazing upon it, could not help ex
claiming,—how paltry and insignificant are the labors of man, when com
pared with works of the Great Architect of the Universe !
On the 12 th, crossed the line in longitude 91° 3CK E., the tedious
light winds and currents continuing until the 18th, when the south east
trade set in in latitude 4° S., commencing in one of the heaviest squalls
I ever remembered : so violent was it, that it nearly tore the masts out
of the brig, and laid her over on her beam ends: fortunately it only
lasted a short time, and did no material damage. It was accompanied
by a vivid flash of lightning, which fell like a ball of fire, enveloping us
in one sheet of livid sulphureous flame, and nearly blinding every one
on deck by the intensity of its glare. The peal of thunder which fol
lowed was like the explosion of some vast mine, or the bursting forth ol
a volcano—it shook the little craft from stem to stem, and made every
thing tremble ; the clouds poured down their burdens in such torrents
that it seemed as if a second deluge had arrived. The weather, how
ever, in the morning, was somewhat more propitious, though still in an
unsettled state, which continued without change throughout the S. E.
trade. In consequence of this circumstance we were prevented from vi
siting the Cocos for a fresh supply of water, and were obliged to shape
our course to the southward.
On the 4th May lost the S. E. trade, in latitude 31° 43' S., and lon
gitude 88 ° 7 / E., and at IGh. 30m. of that day passed the carcase of an
immense whale, resembling a small vessel keel uppermost. The gig was
lowered, and I went to examine it: the effluvia, as the boat passed some
distance to leeward, was intolerable. The dimensions of it were found
to be as follows, viz., thirty feet long, twenty wide, and about ten m
depth : the greater part of the body was missing, but from what remained
it was evident it must have been a very large fish. Immense shoals of
albicore, boneta, and sharks, together with innumerable birds, such as
the Cape hen, pintardo, and albatross, surrounded it, and were quietly
feasting on this dainty morsel; and so occupied were they, that even the