628 J A M A I C A. 



1 have frequently in the night-time, in a clcur ferene air, obferved 

 fmall orbs of fire kindled in the higher region, and defcend ver}' rapidly 

 to the earth. Thefe arecommonl}'' c^\\Q.6JJ:ooting-Jlcirs; they are pro- 

 bably fulphnreocs, nitrous, or oleaginous particles, which, meeting 

 with other ejflirc'ia at a certain elevation in the atmofphere adapted to 

 enkindle them, fuddenly fliew themfclves in flame, and burn downwards, 

 till the whole tr.;in of inflannnablc matter, which reaches lo the earth, 

 or near it, is con fumed; for, lometimes, they appear extinguifhed be- 

 fore they reach it. TJie quantity of thi^ inflammable matter is feldom fo 

 large as to produce any nolle. It is net an abfurd conjcdure, perhaps, 

 that fuch colleiflions may often contribute greatly towards that havock 

 which accompanies lightning. When the atmofphere of a cloud, im- 

 pregnated with the eledric fluid, happens to come in cont-jft with fuch 

 phlogiftic particles collected in the air, they may join their force toge- 

 ther, and precipitate towards the earth, in the fume direfvion as the 

 meteor would have taken fingly. I think it is not to be doubted, but 

 that fuch meteors are as often enkindled in the day-time, as in the 

 right, though, by reafon of the fun's itronger light, they m.iy not be 

 viiible. 



As they are moflly feen in a calm and warm ftate of the air, and in 

 dry weather, fo they are regarded as prefages of drought. 



The moil remarkable meteor obferved here, was feen on the 22dof 

 January, 1770, about feven in the evening. The weather preceding 

 was hot and dry, and accompanied with fome very flight earthquakes. 

 This meteor came from the W . S. \V., increafed in its apparent bulk as 

 it rofe, and, when it arrived at the meridian, emitted lo ftrong a light, 

 that, for more than the fpace of a minute, thefmalleft print or writing 

 might eafily be read. There were darted froni the main orb, fix or 

 feven fmaller portions, refcmbling very large brilliant ftars, which pre- 

 lently difappeared. After this, the orb aillimed the appearance of a 

 large ball of fire, loling its bulk and fplendor gradually, and, changing 

 its former direction to that of E. S. E., it defcended towards the hori- 

 zon with a long dufky reddifii coma, fomewhat interrupted acrofs, un- 

 til it entirely vaniflied. 



The whole time of its duration, from the time it was firft feen, was 

 about five minutes. [Plate B.] 

 « — Its firfi appearance. 



)G — Its courle, and feem.ing incrcafe of bulk as it arofe. 

 y — Its greatelt elevation and di\lfion into minuter portions. At this 

 period it was moft refulgent, and appeared much larger than in any 

 other part of the arch, and without any tail, as it alfb did in the 

 next flation. 



J— Its 



