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page 105 ---Tropic of Cancer---phenomena of the torrid zone--- scientific instruments and measurements---

The moisture of the air, on the other hand, had greatly increased; and excepting the hot and dry noon, the hygrometer, especially in the morning and evening, indicated the greatest relaxation, which was sensibly felt in frequent clammy dews. Here, in the torrid zone, the sea of an indigo blue colour, rolled in uniform waves, and began to shine generally, and with great splendour, during the night, a phenomenon which we had hitherto seldom observed.

This magnificent appearance, the frequent lightnings, and innumerable falling stars, together with the greater sultriness of the air, seemed to indicate a higher degree of electricity in the element, though the electrometer, in the prevailing moisture of the air, showed rather less electricity than before. A striking change gradually took place about ourselves, which affected our own persons, as well as the surrounding objects; our satellite, the shadow, at noon grew less and less, and withdrew between the feet, as if in this part of the creation everything became more independent. This is the latitude in which the flying-fish (Exocoetus volitans) appear in shoals on the surface of the sea, and present an entertaining sight to the solitary observer.

page 106

To avoid the vessel under sail, and the fish of prey, they rise sometimes singly, sometimes in shoals, several feet above the surface of the water, into which they fall again after a flight of forty or fifty paces, in a direction contrary to the wind; sometimes they are cast by the wind upon the quarter-deck, where they are taken by the sailors. Their enemies, the tunny fish (Scomber Thynnus) and bonitoes (Scomber Pelamis), rival in velocity the ship in full sail. They show incredible strength in swimming, for they are able in the midst of their most rapid course, to leap perpendicularly above the surface, and plunge again head foremost into the waves. They were here so numerous, that the crew were able to procure a constant supply for our table by harpooning them, or taking them with strong hooks, to which a bunch of feathers, in imitation of flying-fish, was tied. The largest of these fish which we took on board, weighed seventy pounds.

After we had entered this region of peace and tranquillity, between the tropics, the cushions, which were before placed round the tables, to prevent the glasses, bottles, and plates from falling down, were taken away, and the seamen looked forward to a smooth and safe passage. Our ship, carried on by the regular wind, sailed day and night with equal rapidity, and the sailors found on this passage, what resembled a party of pleasure; where the wanton Policinello, the pedantic Doctor and the lively Colombine appeared, ridiculously enough put together.