METEOROLOGY OF THE CASCADES. 393 
Observations were made on shooting stars, meteors, and other phenomena of like nature. The 
results are given below, taken from my journal : 
August 7, 1853.—Observed several shooting stars: one passing from the northern sky, about 
45° above the horizon, in a westerly direction; one passing over an are of 15° in a direction 
diagonal to the first. A brilliant meteor, from just below the zenith, passed over about 25° in a 
direction north of west; others not distinctly observed. 
August 9.—Ten or twelve meteors of large size were observed, leaving distinct and _ brilliant 
trains behind them; most of these meteors originated in the vicinity of the North star. The 
course of the largest and most luminous was nearly parallel to the horizon, occasionally one 
inclining slightly towards the zenith. Four or five brilliant meteors passed from northern to east- 
ern sky, over arcs varying from 10° to 35°. Four bright stars passed from the southern sky 
about 45° to the horizon. Two small stars passed reciprocally from west to north and from north 
to west, their traces crossing each other about the middle of each; the are described being about 
25° in length, respectively, beginning and ending near the North star. Some three or more shooting 
stars were observed passing generally from the northern to the western sky, over arcs ranging 
from 10° to 40°. Hours of observation from 9 to 12 p. m. 
August 10.—Seven large brilliant meteors observed passing from northern sky, near the North 
star, to western sky, nearly parallel to the horizon. Four of nearly same size and appearance 
passed from the eastern sky to the horizon. Several small shooting stars, forming a cluster, 
passed from northern to eastern sky in a line nearly parallel to the horizon; at the same moment 
a meteor passed from the north to the western sky. 
August 26, 7 p. m.—A very brilliant and beautiful meteor was observed. It appeared almost 
six inches in diameter, and was first seen in the eastern sky, about 40° below the zenith. It 
moved in a northerly direction, and gradually descended towards the horizon, with a slow reg- 
ular motion, occupying several seconds in its course, passing over an arc of about 20°, and disap- 
pearing about 25° above the horizon. Three distinct colors were displayed in its progress— 
yellow, purple or reddish, and light-blue. The blue tint became perceptible just below the 
disappearance of the meteor, and seemed to separate from it, forming a light cloud which slightly 
expanded before disappearing. 
Between 7 and 8 p. m., several shooting stars were noticed—general direction across the zenith 
from west to east, and vice versa. These stars were quite brilliant, but small, and left distinct 
trains of luminous matter. At 8.45 p. m., a brilliant meteor passed in a northeast direction, 
describing an arc of 20°, beginning about 40° above the horizon and descending; at 9 p. m., one 
from zenith, course south about 10°; at 10 p. m., one from zenith, 15° in length to the east; at 
12 p. m., one from zenith towards east, arc of 50° described, course perpendicular to the horizon. 
This star was very brilliant. Of the star noticed between 7 and 8 p. m. as leaving the zenith, two 
of the most marked described ares of 30° to 35° in length. 
September 22.—A brilliant meteor was seen about 9 p. m. in the southern sky. It exploded 
with a noise resembling thunder. Not having seen it myself, I am unable to describe it more 
minutely. 
The general facts with regard to the climate, deduced from these observations, are: first, the 
exceeding dryness of the atmosphere, the hygrometer indicating often a difference of 20°, and 
seldom less than 10°, between the wet and dry bulb; second, great scarcity of rain during the 
late spring, summer, and early autumn months, and, above the latitute of 46°, an almost entire 
absence of rain throughout the year; third, a great disproportion between the temperature of the 
nights and days, and a tendency to freezing, even in the summer months, during the hours just 
preceding dawn. 
The climate is, by the united testimony of the inhabitants, a healthy one, but east of the mount- 
ains certainly not favorable to agriculture. In this, however, nature, which does not present 
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