hurled his thunder on the passing mariner. The most enlightened seamen of the present day, among whom might be included the Master of our vessel, maintain, with testimony which it is difficult to dispute, that in stormy weather they have observed a lambent flame playing upon the face of the precipice of Samos, about two-thirds of its height from the surface of the water. Many, say they, are the vessels this natural Phanar has rescued from destruction, by the guidance it affords during the thick fogs of the winter season. They further allege, that the natives of Samos have frequently gone up the mountain, in dark tempestuous weather, to seek this fire, but have never been able to discover whence it issues. For my own part, I do not doubt the fact. It is probably one of those exhalations of ignited hydrogen gas, found in many parts of the world, and always most conspicuous in hazy and rainy weather; as in the instance of the burning vapour at Pietra Mala in Tuscany, and many other in different parts of Persia. That of Samos, perhaps, from its inaccessible situation, rendered still more difficult of approach in stormy weather, might escape the search of the natives, and yet be visible from a considerable distance at sea3. Approaching the yawning chasm, Nature,

in

(3) An anecdote, very characteristic of the Turks, relating to an occurrence a short time previous to our travels in Turkey, proves that lights are sometimes exposed, by the Samians themselves, to guide vessels in these Straits. A Turkish frigate, during her passage through the Boccaxe of Samos, was wrecked upon the rocks of that island. The Turkish Admiral insisted upon being paid the value of the frigate by the inhabitants; and when these, regretting that they had not gone up with lights, maintained their innocence, as to the loss of the frigate, the Mahometan exclaimed, "You will admit one argument! Would the wreck have happened, if your island had way?"

not been in the

CHAP. VII.

Burning

Vapour.

CHAP. VII.

View of Patmos and the Cyclades.

in one of her awful convulsions, has here opened to the
waves, a mountainous surge rolled after our little bark.
Prosperous winds, however, carried us along, and
presently left the Boccaze in our stern; passing the Isle
of Fourmi, and steering into the broad surface of the
waters, with all the southern islands of the Archipelago in
view. It is not possible for any power of language adequately
to describe the appearance, presented at the rising, or
setting of the sun, in the Ægean Sea. Whether in dim
perspective, through grey and silvery mists, or amidst hues
of liveliest purple, the isles and continents of Greece present
their varied features, nor pen, nor pencil, can pourtray the
scenery. Whatsoever, in the warmest fancies of my youth,
imagination had represented of this gifted country, was
afterwards not only realized, but surpassed. Let the Reader
picture to his conception an evening sun, behind the
towering cliffs of Patmos, gilding the battlements of the
Monastery of the Apocalypse with its parting rays; the con-
secrated island, surrounded by inexpressible brightness,
seeming to float upon an abyss of fire'; while the moon,
in milder splendor, is rising full over the opposite expanse.
Such a scene I actually witnessed, with feelings naturally
excited by all the circumstances of local solemnity; for such
indeed might have been the face of Nature, when the
inspiration of an Apostle, kindling in its contemplation,
uttered the Alleluias of that mighty Voice, telling of

SALVATION AND GLORY AND HONOUR AND POWER.

(1) "And I saw, as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire." Rev. xv. 2.
(2) Rev. xix. 1.

How