A relation of the voyage to Siam : performed by six Jesuits, sent by the French king, to the Indies and China, in the year, 1685. With their astrological observations, and their remarks of natural philosophy, geography, hydrography, and history. Published in the original, by the express orders of His Most Christian Majesty. And now made English, and illustrated with sculptures.

  • Tachard, Guy, 1651-1712.
Date:
1688
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A relation of the voyage to Siam : performed by six Jesuits, sent by the French king, to the Indies and China, in the year, 1685. With their astrological observations, and their remarks of natural philosophy, geography, hydrography, and history. Published in the original, by the express orders of His Most Christian Majesty. And now made English, and illustrated with sculptures. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    they feem to be reverfed, and fometimes it happens that a Cloud paffing over it, and being ready to diflolve into Rain, another Rainbow is formed, the extremities whereof feem to be continued with the extremities of the reverfed Iris, and fo makes a Circle of Rain-bow almoft entire. Phenomena The Sea hath its Phenomena as well as the Air, that are to be fires#many times appear upon it, efpecially be- feen inthe -twixtthe Tropicks: We have feen it fometimes M! water of the in the night-time covered all over with fparks, Sea. ae a ae ; P when it is a little high and the water breaks with a topping Sea: we obferved alfo a great light a- jj {tern of the Ship, efpecially if fhe made quick way; jj . for then the wake or tract of the Ship appeared jj ™™ CES hu Han Salt, Nitre, and more particularly of that water ff ior. whercof the Chimifts make the chief part of their jf puch Phofphorus, which being agitated is immediately jj be St inflamed and appears Luminous, ought alfo by #j the fame reafon to fparkle when it is put into mo~ jj MM tion. So finall a matter is enough to make fire || hat come out of Sea-water, that handling a Line or {| ln: fmall Rope that hath been ftceped in it, one will } force out an infinite number. of {parks like to the J light of Glow-worms that is to fay, lively and ff tir: blewifh. | | It is not only when the Sea is in agitation that | thefé glancings are to be feen, we faw of them | the Sea inthe near the Line, in a dead Calm after Sun-fet: they | night time. ., féemed to us to be like a vaft number of {mall flafhes of faint Lightning coming out of the Sea, | and | Lights that come out of