88 Prof. E.. Loomis on the Aurora of 1859. 
mountains. ‘The aurora exhibited sudden flashes, and there 
were pulsations like waves of light rushing up from the horizon, 
I have been told that Capt. John G. Walker, of the Rifle Regi- 
ment, wrote a description of the aurora as it appeared at Fort | 
Defiance (lat. 35° 44’), where it is said to have been very brililant, 
13. Observations at the Sandwich Islands (lat. 20° N., long. 
157° W.), from the Pacific Commercial Advertiser. 
The Advertiser of Sept. 8th, 1859, states: “There was quite 
a display of the Aurora a few nights since, visible at Honolulu, 
road fiery streaks shot up into and played among the heavens, 
almost as beautifully as those which are sometimes seen in more 
northern climes.” 
The Advertiser of Sept, 17th contains the following letter 
from S. E. Bishop, dated Lahaina, Sept. 9th. “ Your statement 
that the Aurora was seen in Honolulu enabled me to account 
for the phenomenon I observed here a few nights since. At 10 
Pp. M. I noticed a bright, unsteady crimson glow upon the sky, 
extending from N. E. to N., and about 35° of altitude. It re- 
sembled the reflection of a great conflagration at twenty or thirty 
miles distance, and I attributed it to heavy fires on the other 
side of the mountain. I was puzzled however by the fact that 
the clouds which rested on the mountain did not give the slight- 
est reflection of the supposed fire. Moreover the light was far 
too pure and rich a crimson to have been caused by a fire. 
14, Observations at Porta Rico, West Indies (lat. 18° N,), by 
M. du Cotomstgr, from L’ Institut of Feb. 1st, 1860. 
Having awakened at 2" 30™ 4, m., Sept. 2nd, I was greatly 
astonished to see my windows, which looked towards the north, 
brightly illumined by a brilliant purple light. Rising imme- 
diately, I perceived that this light proceeded from a magnificent 
aurora, which, according to the testimony of the guard, com- 
menced at 2° 4. M. and was observed till 4" a.m. The luminous 
rays, red, purple and violet, extended even to the zenith. The 
oldest inhabitants of the place declared that they had never be- 
fore seen a phenomenon of this kind. 
15. Observations at Santiago de Chili (lat. 38° 26’ S.), by C. 
Mostra, Director of the Observatory. 
The aurora you allude to did occur at this and several other 
places in the south of Chili, during the night between Sept. 1st 
and Sept. 2nd, 1859. I did not witness the phenomenon myself, 
but it appears that the aurora was visible from about half past 
1 until 4 4. M., showing a motion to the west. The watchmen 
were much alarmed at the colored light with which the southern 
