METEORS. 331 



tiful phenomenon was observed during the preceding 

 night, which appeared again this and several following 

 nights. It consisted of long columns of clear white light 

 shooting up from the horizon to the eastward, almost to 

 the zenith, and gradually spreading on the whole south- 

 ern part of the sky. These columns were sometimes 

 bent sideways, at their upper extremities, and though in 

 most respects similar to the northern lights in our hemi- 

 sphere, yet differed from them in being always of a whitish 

 color, whereas ours assume various tints, especially those 

 of a fiery and purple hue.' 



Many conjectural opinions have been formed concern- 

 ing the cause of this phenomenon. Some have supposed 

 it to be caused by rays of light reflected from the im- 

 mense masses of ice floating in the northern ocean. 

 Others have supposed it inflammable air. It is now 

 pretty generally admitted that electricity is the agent in 

 producing these appearances. Every theory upon the 

 subject is however conjectural and no one perfectly 

 satisfactory. There can be but littlw doubt that electri- 

 city (which is the same with lightning) is the agent. 

 But how to account for its accumulation at the poles, and 

 for the peculiar phenomena which it there exhibits, is 

 difficult. The following theory is perhaps more plausi- 

 ble than any other which has been presented. 



' The great quantity of vapor rising between the tro- 

 pics forms clouds, which contain much electricity ; some 

 of them fall in rain, before they come to the polar 

 regions. Every drop brings down some electricity with 

 it ; the same is done by snow or hail ; the electricity so 

 descending, in temperate climates, is received and im- 

 bibed by the earth. If the clouds be not sufficiently dis- 

 charged by this gradual operation, they sometimes dis- 

 charge themselves suddenly, by striking into the earth, 

 when the earth is fit to receive their electricity. The 

 earth in temperate and warm climates, is generally fit to 

 receive it, being a good conductor. 



' The humidity contained in all the equatorial clouds 

 that reach the polar regions, must there be condensed, 

 and fall in snow. The great cake of ice that eternally 

 covers those regions may be frozen too hard to permit 



