LUMINOUS METEORS. Ill 



at Cumana they were observed in the E. and N.E., we CHAP. X. 



must conclude that they fell into the sea between 

 Africa and South America, to the west of the Cape 

 Verd Islands. 



Without entering into the learned discussion, which Fnrtiiev 

 Humboldt submits to his readers, respecting the nature oMervations. 

 of these luminous bodies, we shall merely observe, that 

 he found falling-stars more frequent in the equinoctial 

 regions than in the temperate zone, and also that they 

 occurred oftener over continents and near certain coasts 

 than on the ocean. He states that on the platform ot 

 the Andes there was observed, upwards of thirty years 

 before, a phenomenon similar to that related above as 

 having occurred at Cumana. From the city of Quito 

 an immense number of meteors was seen rising over the 

 volcano of Cayambo, insomuch that the whole mountain 

 was thought to be on fire. They continued more than 

 an hour, and a religious procession was about to be 

 commenced, when the true nature of the luminous 

 appearance was discovered. 



