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148 Auroras and Sunset. 
and in this latitude, was observed; but as the evening came on 
and the last light from the sun could no Jonger be seen, streaming 
rays darted up higher and more towards the zenith, while the base 
spread farther and farther around, until the whole horizon seemed 
the Auroral fountain. The atmosphere was almost entirely clear 
- from the commencement, and what appeared for atime to be a 
eye was turned alittle from 
cloud ascending from the southern horizon so suddenly vanished, 
that it left a doubt whether it were in reality a vapory sheet or 
merely a modified exhibition of this beautiful Aurora. At twen- 
ty minutes past eight, the whole vault of the sky seemed made 
of silvery stripes constantly changing positions, separating into 
blocks, and incessantly dancing from the horizon to the zenith, 
where they converged in a ragged cloud, that assumed, in its in- 
terval-existence, every conceivable shape. 
The pencils, for the most part, were bluish white, with a tinge 
of leaden color; and there prevailed, during the whole display, 
more or less of a beautiful lake and a lilac, which being thrown 
occasionally like a mellow cloud over wide sections of the heav- 
ens, and combined with, or spread over.the pencils, presented the 
richest arrangements of colorst hat, it would seem, could be gath- 
ered in the skies. In some stages, the lake gave to the sky that 
gorgeous appearance, observed at the rising of a summer-sun, when 
the clouds, thin and scarcely visible, are tipped. with a deep crim- 
son tinge. In others, it lay a broad band, unmoved by the flashes 
that played above and below. Like the lake, there was a sheet 
of white that moved about, distantly accompanied by smaller 
sheets or more properly segments of belts, unaffected by the flicks: 
: ering agitation observed above and around. Bs 
Sowers the close of tbe pepo which was of natn = 
‘til p ‘ : a 
Ba direct view, like the 
= tongued flame from a large furnace, only more brilliant, fo of 
greater length. Being cut off in some places by bars of white 
clouds near the horizon, the interest of the scene was heightened 
by the more rapid movement which was apparel: near the ba 
__ of the pencils. a 
_ The focus continued very near the same sink, hig: was — 
about four degrees directly south from the zenith. At times the 
point to which all the sheaves tended, would be glowing as if 
with accum) ulated light, that looked like a torrent at its entrance, 
e 
