90 G. A. Rowell on the Aurora Borealis. 



ances continued to increase, but more especially the spreading of the 

 glowing red colour, till the north-western sky was covered with large 

 patches, which increased and decreased in size, appeared and disap- 

 peared with a rapidity which was truly surprising. About seven 

 o'clock the sky in those parts became overcast with dark clouds, and 

 rain fell for some time ; after which the patches (which were between 

 a pink and crimson colour) appeared more distinct than before. 

 About eight o'clock these patches gradually disappeared, except on 

 the north-western horizon, where the crimson light continued de- 

 creasing at times till almost invisible, when it bui'st out again with a 

 bright glowing light, sometimes to the height of thirty or forty de- 

 grees, having the appearance of the light from a large fire at a dis- 

 tance. At the same time there was an appearance of the red tinge 

 in the north-east, but not so bright as that in the north-west. This 

 coloured patch was some ten or twelve degrees above the horizon, and 

 extended thence towards the zenith, at times ten, twenty, or thirty de- 

 grees ; this light decreased gradually till it faded away about half-past 

 eight o'clock. About eight o'clock there arose from the north an 

 ill-defined band of five or six degrees in depth, of a light misty ap- 

 pearance, having somewhat the form of an auroral arch with its 

 centre about midway between the magnetic and the true meridian. 

 It continued to rise gradually till the lower side of the centre of the 

 arch had an elevation of fifteen or eighteen degrees, while it had so 

 increased in width as to rise almost to the pole star ; but the upper 

 part was so ill-defined that it had the appearance of a fine hazy 

 cloud ; so much so that I believe no one would have thought it other- 

 wise, but for the presence of the auroral lights above alluded to, and 

 since at times faint flashes of auroral streamers appeared in the haze, 

 and disappeared again instantaneously. About nine o'clock a bright 

 crimson patch appeared on the horizon, a little north of east, the stars 

 Castor and Pollux being sometimes within the light, and at other times 

 the light being a little farther towards the north. This light, as also 

 that in the north-west, continued till the grand appearance at a quar- 

 ter to ten o'clock. The hazy appearance in the north had now in- 

 creased till it had quite the look of a cloud, except that the stars 

 were visible through it ; the dark arch below jt had the look of a black 

 cloud, but I am convinced that it was only the clear sky rendered 

 more dark from the contrast with the light above it. About seven- 

 teen minutes before ten o'clock there appeared suddenly in the haze 

 singular patches of whitish light, looking as if two curtains or frinores 

 of light were hanging across tJie heavens, the one above the other, 

 and parallel with the horizon : they were each about five or six de- 

 grees in depth, and perhaps ten or twelve degrees long, the lower 

 one being just above the dark arch — ^this continued for a minute or 

 two, when a scene presented itself so grand that I fear I can only 

 give a very inadequate description of it. Suddenly from the body 

 of light on the eastern horizon, bright crimson columns or streamers 



