The ocean / By P. H. Gosse.

  • Gosse, Philip Henry, 1810-1888.
Date:
[pref. 1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ocean / By P. H. Gosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    299/388 (page 277)
    and usefulness strike the eye of a stranger. Sea- ward, there is the long line of the reef; a low but impregnable barrier, with the surging wave foaming over it; and beyond, the boundless Pacific, unbroken by any object, save the white-sailed canoe in the distance, scarcely distinguishable from the crest of a wave, but perhaps freighted with the humble native missionary, bearing, to some neighbouring island, that gospel of Christ, which he has found to be “ the power of God unto [his] salvation.” Beneath and around is the placid and lake-like lagoon, the progress of the boat alone dimpling its smooth face. So transparent is the water, that the varied bottom is distinctly visible many fathoms down, showing the groves of living coral branching in fantastic imitation of the shrubs and trees on the shore, and representing to the charmed imagi- nation an extensive sub-marine shrubbery of many hues. Even the irregular movements of the spined urchins {Echini) are clearly seen, as they crawl upon the sands, and the multitudes of playful little rock- fishes {Labri), of every rich and glowing tint, gliding with easy and graceful motion among the branches, rivet the spectator’s attention. Mr. Ellis thus describes his feelings in a similar situation, walking on the lonely sea-beach by moon- light : “ The evening was fair, the moon shone brightly, and her mild beams, silvering the foliage of the shrubs that grew near the shore, and playing on the rippled and undulating wave of the ocean, added a charm to the singularity of the prospect, and enlivened the loneliness of our situation. The