my name.

"But to return. A small circular window, made of a single piece of
thick clear glass, was neatly fitted on each of the six sides. Several
pieces of lead were securely fastened to screws which passed through
the bottom of the machine as well as a thick plank. The screws were so
contrived, that by turning them in one direction, the pieces of lead
attached to them were immediately disengaged from the hooks with which
they were connected. The pieces of lunarium were fastened in like
manner to screws, which passed through the top of the machine; so that
by turning them in one direction, those metallic pieces would fly into
the air with the velocity of a rocket. The Brahmin took with him a
thermometer, two telescopes, one of which projected through the top of
the machine, and the other through the bottom; a phosphoric lamp, pen,
ink, and paper, and some light refreshments sufficient to supply us
for some days.

"The moon was then in her third quarter, and near the zenith: it was,
of course, a little after midnight, and when the coppersmith and his
family were in their soundest sleep, that we entered the machine. In
about an hour more we had the doors secured, and every thing arranged
in its place, when, cutting the cords which fastened us to the ground,
by means of small steel blades which worked in the ends of other
screws, we rose from the earth with a whizzing sound, and a sensation
at first of very rapid ascent, but after a short time, we were
scarcely sensible of any motion in the machine, except when we changed
our places."

After the apprehensions of Atterley, occasioned by the novelty and
danger of his situation, had partly subsided, he was enabled, with
mingled awe and admiration, to contemplate the magnificent spectacle
beneath him. As the earth turned round its axis, during their ascent,
every part of its surface came successively under view. At nine
o'clock, the whole of India was to the west of them; its rivers
resembling small filaments of silver, and the Red Sea a narrow plate
of the same metal. The peninsula of India was of a dark, and Arabia of
a light, grayer green, and the sun's rays striking on the Atlantic,
emitted an effulgence dazzling to the eyes. On looking, some time
afterwards, through the telescope, they observed the African
Continent, at its northern edge; fringed, as it were, with green;
"then a dull white belt marked the great Sahara o