Meteoric Phenomenon. 87 



display was the duration and singular shapes assumed by the lumin- 

 ous atmosphere after the explosion of the meteors; some appeared 

 like a half circle, others like waves, or the undulating folds of a ser- 

 pent occupying the space traversed by the meteor, and generally 

 changing their shape and position, a little, during their continuance as 

 if moved by the wind. Some of these luminous or phosphorescent 

 clouds, occupied six or eight degrees in length and one or two in 

 width, the color not fiery, but silvery, like moonlight on a thin trans- 

 parent cloud. A very remarkable one was seen at about twenty 

 minutes before six. It started from a point in the S. W. at an eleva- 

 tion of about 75° taking a N. W. course and exploded at 55° above 

 the horizon, near to the right shoulder of the constellation of the 

 " wagoner." It was three or four times the diameter of Venus, and 

 left a luminous train occupying several degrees, in the shape of the 

 human arm, half bent. It was distinctly seen for at least fifteen 

 minutes. The larger meteors were more common from three to 

 four o'clock, as I am informed by eye witnesses. I observed them 

 myself, only from five to six o'clock, and until the morning light ex- 

 tinguished them, or rather I think they had nearly ceased at that time, 

 as they were much less numerous at six o'clock, than at an hour or 

 two earlier. From their great elevation, they must have been seen 

 all over North America, and probably much farther. A gentleman 

 who lives at Quincy, one hundred and sixty miles above the town of 

 St. Louis, on the Mississippi, informed me, that he saw a few scat- 

 tering meteors, between nine and ten o'clock, the evening of the 

 twelfth, in E. and N. E. and as they were seen at about the same time 

 at Marietta, and in New York, it is probable they commenced about 

 that period and in that quarter of the heavens. Nearly all the ob- 

 serving spectators with whom I have conversed agree in this point, 

 that the meteors appeared to start from a centre a little east of the ze- 

 nith, taking a diverging course to every point in the compass; I saw 

 none fall to the earth, or nearer, than to within ten or fifteen degrees 

 of the horizon. 



In the year 1799, and at nearly the same time in the year, viz. 

 the twelfth, instead of the thirteenth of November, the same won- 

 derful display of meteors was observed by Humboldt and Bonpland 

 at Cumana, in central America. The description, as given by these 

 celebrated travelers, cannot fail to be interesting. " Towards morn- 

 ing, a very extraordinary display of luminous meteors, was observed 

 in the east by M. Bonpland, who had risen to enjoy the freshness of 



