The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-14
(From Golden Hours.
The White Water" Of the Arabian


Travellers and others proceeding to India
uid Egypt have occasionally witnessed this
grand and awe.stirring phenomenon whep
crossing the Arabian sea. Many have writ
ten on the subject, but none have as.
signed to this impressive scene lis true
cause. each and all, without mo-
ment's consideration, blindly accept
ing the opinion Of some far-distant au-
tbority, who enormously attributed this
singular transformation OF the color OF
the water to tie presence OF myriads OF ln-
fnItesimal animalculC. Should the stern
behest OF duty or the call Of pleasure at any
time cause the reader to undertake the
overland tourney to India, he must not fail
TO give instructions to be called should this
nocturnal phenomenon occur. 1t is more
frequently seen in the months Of July and
August. and is principally confined to a
narrow belt to the eastward OF the Island
of Socotra, known on the SOUTH
west monsoon chart OF that sea as the
| line OF the strongest monsoon, and
wherein the rain.clouds on quitting Cen
! trail Africa on their passage eastward are
apparently confined. Should the moor be
above the horizon an undisturbed nights
rest may be anticipated, as the writer has
never known it to occur during the pre-
sepce OF that orb-the moon acting as
dispenser OF mists, and her powerful
rays checking any phenomenal attempt OF
the kind. During the greater part oil
twenty years spent in crossing and re-
crossing the Arabian sea many OF these
beautiiul phenomena have been observed
by the writer, frequently imperfect, occa-
siopalIy grand and fully developed. To
give the reader some idea OF this remarka-
BILE and striking appearance, we will sup
pose ourselves in some fine steamer, about
two hundred and fifty miles 10 the east
ward of Socotra in the position named,
and in the latter end Of July, time A. NJ
The monsoon Is blowing strongly and
steadily-tbe night star-lis and clear
light fleecy scud occasionally passing
rapidIy to the eastward, and the good
vessel bowling along before wind and sea
at the rate OF fourteen or fifteen knots an
hour. Suddenly we discover whtish hue
in the water. which in q short while as
sumes a snow-white aspect, and Ia the
course of quarter OF an hour extends tC
the outline of the horizon in all directions
The transformation OF the water is perfect
the limpid sea has been replaced by
llouid as white as milk. We will now
draw bucket OF water for inspection anc
analysis. The operation TO an eXpert
enced hand is the work OF moment.
bucket dropped on its side with its moutl
canted downwards fills instantly, and II
the course OF three second the bucket
with its freight, Is before us. Yes,
bucketiul OF most Eeautlfully-cIear, sal
water! Not a vestige OF anything Whit
lis visible, and the microscope can dis
cover nothing above the ordinary quan
tity of insect life always present In sea
water within the tropics, take 1t iron
where you will. AS there are no presen
symptoms OF the phenomenon dispersin:
we will in imagination retrace our steps t(
the Mediterranean, and place ourselve
about hallway between Malta and Alex
andria, time p. NJ, weather warm, brigh
and clear, and the water OF deep indig
blue. The same expert individual VIII
procured so speedily from the white Sc
a bucketful OF water, will now draw
us one OF the blue sea. The result
precIsely similar, and instead OF obtaining
a bucket OF blue water, we have, as In I'D
first case, one OF equal clearness an
purity. In the latter case the deception
is OF very easy explanation In the forme
case il is also the result OF absorption an
reflection OF color. The vessel is passin
, through light, misty atmosphere inaI
preciable to the eye when within It's III
fluence, and the white, wstery yesicle
held in suspension are, 10 some favorsbl
condition Of air and water, absorbed by th
latter and reflected. The phenomenon pa
now lasted an hour and half. and TO tn
experienced eye there are visible signs
lis dissolution. The vessel Is 10 fact pas
,, ing out OF It; the skyline Of the horizo
ahead, marking the limit OF The mist, a
sumes an intense blackness, which ris'
rapidly Ia altitude; the stars shin
brilliantly through the darkness, whic
approaches at lightning speed until
reaches the zenith, when the ship app
: rently shoots through 1t rs II by some mag
! cal power. Now, cast your eyes astern au
the misty atmosphere through which
. bave passed Is distinctly visibles the u
: : tensely black sky descends in altitude
7 THE steamer speeds onward and speedi
= dips below the horizon, and obliterates