1827. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 125 



this storm the temperature fell four degrees, but gra- 

 dually rose again to its former height. The sympeiso- 

 meter was not sensibly affected. March, 



On the following day fine weather was restored, the 

 trade took its proper direction ; and the sea, which had 

 been much agitated by the changeable winds, abated, 

 and we pursued a steady course. About four days 

 afterwards a brilliant meteor was discharged from the 

 zenith towards the north-west, in the direction of some 

 heavy clouds (nimbi), which were pouring down tor- 

 rents of rain. It presented a long bright liquid flame 

 of a bluish cast, and was followed by a train of sparks, 

 until it had reached within 15^ of the horizon, when 

 it exploded, and three distinct fragments, having the 

 appearance of being red hot, were discharged. They 

 gradually lost their brilliancy as they fell, and were 

 quite extinguished before they came in contact with 

 the water. With the exception of the nimbi in the 

 north-west, the sky was perfectly clear, particularly at 

 the zenith, whence the meteor appeared first to be dis- 

 charged. After these meteorological disturbances we 

 had fine weather almost all the remainder of the 

 passage. 



At two o'clock on the 15th we were within a few 

 leagues of the situation of Wake's Island, and the ship 

 was brought to until daylight ; but seeing no land at 

 that time we bore away again, and at noon were ex- 

 actly on the spot where the island is placed in Arrow- 

 smith's chart. A few tern and a gannet were seen about 

 eight o'clock in the morning, but we had no other indi- 

 cations of land : still in the expectation of falling in with 

 it, we continued the course due west, and ran through- 

 out the night, which was clear and fine, but without 

 being more successful. I afterwards learned that the 



