Meteoric Phenomenon. 87 
display was the duration and singular shapes assumed by the lumin- 
ous atmosphere after the explosion of the meteors; some appeared 
like a half circle, others like waves, or the undulating folds of a ser- 
pent occupying the space traversed by the meteor, and generally 
changing their shape and position, a little, during their continuance as 
if moved by the wind. Some of these luminous or phosphorescent 
clouds, occupied six or eight degrees in length and one or two in 
width, the color not fiery, but silvery, like moonlight on a thin trans- 
parent cloud. A very remarkable one was seen at about twenty 
minutes before six. It started from a point inthe S. W. at an eleva- 
tion of about 75° taking a N. W. course and exploded at 55° above 
the horizon, near to the right shoulder of the constellation of the 
‘“‘wagoner.” It was three or four times the diameter of Venus, and 
left a luminous train occupying several degrees, in the shape of the 
human arm, half bent. It was distinctly seen for at least fifteen 
minutes. The larger meteors were more common from three to 
four o’clock, as I am informed by eye witnesses. I observed them 
myself, only from five to six o’clock, and until the morning light ex- 
tinguished them, or rather I think they had nearly ceased at that time, 
as they were much less numerous at six o’clock, than at an hour or 
two earlier. From their great elevation, they must have been seen 
all over North America, and probably much farther. A gentleman 
who lives at Quincy, one hundred and sixty miles above the town of 
St. Louis, on the Mississippi, informed me, that he saw a few scat- 
tering meteors, between nine and ten o’clock, the evening of the 
twelfth, in E. and N. E. and as they were seen at about the same time 
at Marietta, and in New York, it is probable they commenced about 
that period and in that quarter of the heavens. Nearly all the ob- 
serving spectators with whom I have conversed agree in this point, 
that the meteors appeared to start from a centre a little east of the ze- 
nith, taking a diverging course to every point in the compass; I saw 
none fail to the earth, or nearer, than to within ten or fifteen degrees 
of the horizon. 
In the year 1799, and at nearly the same time in the year, viz. 
the twelfth, instead of the thirteenth of November, the same won- 
derful display of meteors was observed by Humboldt and Bonpland 
at Cumana, in central America. The description, as given by these . 
celebrated travelers, cannot fail to be interesting. .“‘ Tewards morn- 
ing, a very extraordinary display of luminous meteors, was observed 
in the east by M. Bonpland, who had risen to enjoy the freshness of 
