REMARKABLE ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA. 107 



habitants showed the warmest concern for the strangers, chap. X. 



and although Bonpland had a fever during the night he 



speedily recovered. The object of the Zambo, who soon 

 afterwards succeeded in escaping from the castle of San 

 Antonio, was never satisfactorily made out. 



Notwithstanding this untoward accident Humboldt Eclipse of 

 was enabled to observe the eclipse. The days which ^'^ '*^"- 

 preceded and followed it displayed very remarkable 

 atmospheric phenomena. It was what is called Avinter 

 in those countries. From the 10th of October to the 

 Sd of November a reddish vapour rose in the evening, 

 and in a few minutes covered the sky. The hygrometer 

 gave no indication of humidity. The diurnal heat was 

 from 82'4° to 89'6°. Sometimes in the midst of the 

 night the mist disappeared for a moment, when clouds Atmospheric 

 of a brilliant whiteness formed in the zenith, and ex- phenomena. 

 tended towards the horizon. On tlie 18th of October 

 they were so transparent that they did not conceal stars 

 even of the fourth magnitude, and the spots of the moon 

 were very clearly distinguished. They were arranged 

 in masses at equal distances, and seemed to be at a pro- 

 digious height. From the 28th of October to the 3d of 

 November the fog was thicker than it had yet been. 

 The heat at night was stifling, althougli the thermometer 

 indicated only 78'8'. The evening breeze was no longer 

 felt ; the sky appeared as if on fire, and the ground was 

 every where cracked and dusty. On the 4th of Novem- 

 ber, about two in the afternoon, large clouds of extra- „ i t,i 

 ordmary blackness enveloped the mountams of the clouds. 

 Brigantine and Tataraqual, extending gradually to the 

 zenith. About four, thunder was heard overhead, but 

 at an immense height, and with a dull and often inter- 

 rupted sound. At the moment of the strongest electric 

 explosion, two shocks of an earthquake, separated by an 

 interval of fifteen seconds, were felt. The people in the r;„jrt,„najjQ_ 

 streets filled- the air with their cries. Bonpland, who 

 was examining plants, was nearly thrown on the floor, 

 and Humboldt, who was lying in his hammock, felt the 

 concussion strongly. Its direction was from north to 



