Dark days of Canada. 237 



The narrative of the Officers Avho were on board the Sir 

 fftn. Heatlicott, Transport, states that on the 2d July, 1814, 

 tliere was a licavy iaWoi ashes and sand, which was succeeded 

 by a dense liazc, which gradually increased until eleven 

 o'clock in the day, when it cleared up, and the sun Mas of a 

 blood red colour. At one o'clock it again became so dark 

 that the soldiers on board could not see to divide out their 

 dinners without lighted candles. This darkness continued 

 until night ; and during the whole time ashes fell in 

 abundance and completely covered the deck. The trans- 

 port was the whole day off Cape Chat, the wind blew 

 gently from the north shore of the St. Lawrence. The 

 people residing down the river declared there had not 

 been any appearance of fire in the woods.* 



The third narrative is as follows : — 



" On the second instant fjuly 1814), being off Cape Chat, 

 " the sun assumed a very bright blood colour, and at half- 

 " past two a total darkness ensued, this continued till 

 *' about sun set, when the horizon somewhat cleared, but 

 " at nine o'clock it became so dark that it ^vas impossible 

 ** to observe any object, however near, without the help of 

 '* lanterns. 'Ihe ship laid too till two a. m. when the 

 " obscurity disappeared. It is difficult to account for thi< 

 *' phenomenon, as it was not observed beyond fifteen 

 " leagues on either side of the spot where the ship lay. — 

 '* For three day previous some ashes and smoke had been 

 *' observed ; but on the second no symptoms of burnt wood 

 " were felt. It may be presumed that some volcanic 



• Tliir above mil* received from (he OlTicern who were on honrti the Sn 

 H'iUutm lleallicott, \,y Lieul. lugall, ol' the l.Otli regiuicul, who fuvoured 

 rae with ■ copy. 



