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V. On a remarkable Phenomenon observed at Rangoon. 

 By Dr. C. Collingwood, F.L.S.* 



I ACCIDENTALLY heard mention by an eye-witness (a lady 

 residing at Hong Kong) of a circumstance which struck me 

 as so remarkable and interesting that I collected the particulars 

 with care, allowing the narrator to tell her own story, and filling 

 up important particulars by putting questions as little as possible 

 calculated either to lead or mislead. 



It was in the year 1846 that she was on board her husband's 

 ship the ' Manook/ in the Rangoon River, and was walking up and 

 down the poop in company with the chief mate and a child four 

 years old, the poop awning being at the time spread overhead. 

 It was about half-past 7 in the evening, and then quite dark, 

 when suddenly, without any warning, a tremendous sheet of light 

 appeared to rush across the bows of the vessel in a horizontal 

 direction. The light was not like lightning, but appeared to 

 pass swiftly along, and had the aspect of a red thick flame, occu- 

 pying the whole space left visible between the awning and the 

 ship. The suddenness and terrific nature of the glare was such 

 that she fell down upon the deck, believing, as she expresses it, 

 that the world had come to an end, while the child screamed 

 aloud with terror. 



As this frightful luminous appearance rushed by the ship a 

 considerable accession of heat was felt by both the adult persons, 

 and a strong sulphurous smell also accompanied it, though how 

 long this feature lasted cannot now be stated with any certainty. 

 But the phenomenon was unaccompanied by any sound, and 

 sped noiselessly on ; nor could they see where it went, or what 

 finally became of it. The whole affair lasted but some seconds, 

 the light having dashed past them with a speed only inferior to 

 lightning. 



The captain of the ship, and Captain Brown, postmaster and 

 only European resident at the time, were in the house of the 

 latter, situated but a short distance from the shore and from the 

 ship. They both averred that they felt a sudden and remarkable 

 heat, although they saw no light ; and when told of the circum- 

 stance afterwards, on comparing notes as to the time, they im- 

 mediately exclaimed words to this effect, " Then that explains 

 the sudden and unaccountable warmth we felt at that time." 



It is worthy of remark that my informant spontaneously stated 

 that, as well as she could recollect from collateral circumstances 

 this must have occurred some time during the month of No- 

 vember. 



* Communicated by the Author. 



