METEOROLOGY OF THE CASCADES. 393 



Observations were made on shooting stars, meteors, and other phenomena of like nature. The 

 results are given below, taken from my journal : 



August 7, 1853. Observed several shooting stars : one passing from the northern sky, about 

 45 above the horizon, in a westerly direction ; one passing over an arc of 15 in a direction 

 diagonal to the first. A brilliant meteor, from just below the zenith, passed over about 25 in a 

 direction north of west; others not distinctly observed. 



August 9. Ten or twelve meteors of large size were observed, leaving distinct and brilliant 

 trains behind them ; most of these meteors originated in the vicinity of the North star. The 

 course of the largest and most luminous was nearly parallel to the horizon, occasionally one 

 inclining slightly towards the zenith. Four or five brilliant meteors passed from northern to east 

 ern sky, over arcs varying from 10 to 35. Four bright stars passed from the southern sky 

 about 45 to the horizon. Two small stars passed reciprocally from west to north and from north 

 to west, their traces crossing each other about the middle of each ; the arc described being about 

 25 in length, respectively, beginning and ending near the North star. Some three or more shooting 

 stars were observed passing generally from the northern to the western sky, over arcs ranging 

 from 10 to 40. Hours of observation from 9 to 12 p. m. 



August 10. Seven large brilliant meteors observed passing from northern sky, near the North 

 star, to western sky, nearly parallel to the horizon. Four of nearly same size and appearance 

 passed from the eastern sky to the horizon. Several small shooting stars, forming a cluster, 

 passed from northern to eastern sky in a line nearly parallel to the horizon; at the same moment 

 a meteor passed from the north to the western sky. 



August 26, 7 p. m. A very brilliant and beautiful meteor was observed. It appeared almost 

 six inches in diameter, and was first seen in the eastern sky, about 40 below the zenith. It 

 moved in a northerly direction, and gradually descended towards the horizon, with a slow reg 

 ular motion, occupying several seconds in its course, passing over an arc of about 20, and disap 

 pearing about 25 above the horizon. Three distinct colors were displayed in its progress 

 yellow, purple or reddish, and light-blue. The blue tint became perceptible just below the 

 disappearance of the meteor, and seemed to separate from it, forming a light cloud which slightly 

 expanded before disappearing. 



Between 7 and 8 p. m., several shooting stars were noticed general direction across the zenith 

 from west to east, and vice versa. These stars were quite brilliant, but small, and left distinct 

 trains of luminous matter. At 8.45 p. m., a brilliant meteor passed in a northeast direction, 

 describing an arc of 20, beginning about 40 above the horizon and descending; at 9 p. m., one 

 from zenith, course south about 10; at 10 p. m., one from zenith, 15 in length to the east; at 

 12 p. m., one from zenith towards east, arc of 50 described, course perpendicular to the horizon. 

 This star was very brilliant. Of the star noticed between 7 and 8 p. m. as leaving the zenith, two 

 of the most marked described arcs of 30 to 35 in length. 



September 22. A brilliant meteor was seen about 9 p. m. in the southern sky. It exploded 

 with a noise resembling thunder. Not having seen it myself, I am unable to describe it more 

 minutely. 



The general facts with regard to the climate, deduced from these observations, are : first, the 

 exceeding dryness of the atmosphere, the hygrometer indicating often a difference of 20, and 

 seldom less than 10, between the wet and dry bulb; second, great scarcity of rain during the 

 late spring, summer, and early autumn months, and, above the latitute of 46, an almost entire 

 absence of rain throughout the year; third, a great disproportion between the temperature of the 

 nights and days, and a tendency to freezing, even in the summer months, during the hours just 

 preceding dawn. 



The climate is, by the united testimony of the inhabitants, a healthy one, but east of the mount 

 ains certainly not favorable to agriculture. In this, however, nature, which does riot present 

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