46 BEPORT — 1851. 



Bombay and Poonah), when we remarked numerous shooting stars, and, re- 

 collecting the period of the year, we determined to count them. 



" In the course of one hour, from 5 to 6 a.m., thirty-eight of these aerolites 

 passed across that part of the sky within the scope of our vision, and one 

 bright comet-like meteor, almost at day-break, was alone worth the devotion 

 of a whole night's watch had we been so philosophically inclined. But as 

 we were walking, and only looking in one direction, it is probable that little 

 more than an eighth of the celestial vault was under observation : it is not 

 unreasonable to suppose that if the whole had been embraced at least 200 of 

 these bodies might have been noticed. It is also probable that several escaped 

 our attention, which was now and then required for other purposes than star- 

 gazing when the precipices of Khandalla were near. 



" There was nothing very remarkable in these aerolites, unless from their 

 numbers. Their light, or, if you please, combustion, seemed to increase 

 rapidly as they dived into the lower strata of the atmosphere, and finally dis- 

 appeared with a faint explosion, or what looked like it, for it was not audible. 

 Several of these must have been very near to the earth, as by their light they 

 were distinctly seen to traverse the dark shade of the ravine below the sum- 

 mits of the mountains. The wind was easterly at the time, and appeared to 

 influence the course of these astral travellers, which was generally from east 

 to west. 



" The most interesting object, however, Avas a large and brilliant meteor, 

 which showed itself about a quarter before six, rushing from north-west to 

 south-east, almost in an opposite direction to that followed by the smaller 

 asteroids. A sudden blaze of light illumined the sides and very depths of 

 the ravine, and, attracting our notice, we turned round and the cause was 

 visible enough. A dazzling nucleus, about twice the apparent diameter of 

 Jupiter when free from refraction, with a tail about 3° in length, and nearly 

 as luminous as the head, was seen sinking behind the crest of the Ghauts on 

 the Khandalla side; or rather I should say it inclined downwards, for it was 

 evidently moving rapidly to the south-east, and, gradually fading into a pale 

 reddish light, became invisible, not by a sudden coruscation or sign of ex- 

 plosion, for during the whole time that it was visible, about six seconds, the 

 nucleus and its tail retained their original relative proportions, and became 

 indistinct by loss of their luminousness, or from entering the beds of aqueous 

 vaj)our in the lower part of our atmosphere. 



"About an hour afterwards, on meeting a fellow-traveller who had also been 

 descending the Ehore Ghaut at the same early hour, and inquiring if he had 

 seen the meteor, he said 'no !' but he was surprised to find the inside of his 

 palanquin suddenly lighted up by a bright but transient gleam. 



" Even the brightness of Aurora's ' golden hair,' rising in the east, was 

 thrown into the shade by this brilliant stranger darting across the sky. 

 Whether there was a ' close current ' or an ' isolated cloud of sulphur ' 

 resting on the Khandalla Ghaut we cannot pretend to say ; neither are we 

 bound to show from whence either originated, assuming their presence at 

 the time. Certainly the dismal gloom before dawn which pervaded the deep 

 chasm among the Ghauts, into which the road wends, reminded us of the 

 entrance to that nameless region once visited by .^neas and a few others, 

 famous for its sulphureous vapours," — •Bombay Times, Nov. 24. 



No. 17. — " We have been favoured with the subjoined account of a meteor 

 observed at Shorapore, in the Nizam's dominions, on the morning of the 8th 

 December : — ' Notices of meteors always appear welcome to me, and I beg 

 to add my mite to your collection this year. I was looking at y Leonis just 

 before daylight on the morning of the 8th instant ; I had no watch to note 



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