'Travels from India to England : comprehending a visit to the Burman Empire, and a journey through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c., in the years 1825-26, by James Edward Alexander' [‎62] (115/412)

BURMAN EMPIRE.
horizon was illuminated by lightning, which is prevalent here, and
renders the coast of this island exceedingly dangerous to navigation.
Every year vessels are struck, and one was entirely burned a short
time ago.
Whilst standing across the gulf of Manar, in the afternoon of the
29th, the clouds collected in thick masses of cumuli. The sea began
to swell in a heavy and portentous manner, being at the same time
of a leaden hue: presently vivid lightning scintillated from cloud to
cloud; the thunder growled in the distance; the clouds congregated
overhead, and the atmosphere became of the colour of pitch. A
stream of fire darted over our heads, followed by an ear-splitting
peal of thunder; large drops of rain descended, and it came on to
blow most furiously. The ship reeled and staggered through the
troubled sea: a strong gust carried away the topsails of the fore and
mizen masts, and we scudded along with the main. Towards mid
night the gale moderated, and we were enabled to clear away the
streaming remains of our canvas.
On the oOth we saw the high land near Cape Comorin; sounded,
and got bottom with fifty fathoms line. In the middle watch, the
Captain anxiously looking out with his night-glass, observed breakers
on the lee-bow. Ordering the helm to be put hard a-port, it was
found that the tiller-rope had broken; a new one was, however,
bent in sufficient time to enable us to escape this danger, and next
morning we were ten or twelve miles up the coast of Malabar.
1 erceiving a strong and offensive odour from the sea, resembling
the smell of decayed hay, I looked over the sides and observed a
yellowish stripe, a foot in breadth, on the surface of the water, and
extending on both sides as far as the eye could reach. I lowered a
bucket,