a a ee Se Spee 
ON ee re 
52 RSE SIS E T  - O  e. 
122 REMARKABLE ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA. 
scme Biscayan merchants, who were walking on the 
shore, came to their assistance ; when the Zambo, 
seeing himself surrounded, took to his heels and 
sought refuge in a cowhouse, from which he was led 
to prison. The inhabitants showed the warmest 
concern for the strangers, and although Bonpland 
had a fever during the night he speedily recovered. 
The object of the Zambo, who soon afterwards suc- 
ceeded in escaping from the castle of San es, 
was never satisfactorily made out. 
Notwithstanding this untoward accident Hum- 
boldt was enabled to observe the eclipse. The days 
which preceded and followed it displayed very re- 
markable atmospheric phenomena. It was what is 
called winter in those countries. From the 10th of 
October to the 3d 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°. Some- 
times in the midst of the night the mist dis- 
appeared for a moment, when clouds of a brilliant 
whiteness formed in the zenith, and extended towards 
the horizon. On the 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 ar- 
ranged in masses at equal distances, and seemed to 
be at a prodigious height. From the 28th of Octo- 
ber to the 3d of November the fog was thicker than 
it had yet been. The heat at night was stifling, al- 
though the thermometer indicated only 788°. The 
evening breeze was no longer felt ; the sky appear- 
ed as if on fire, and the ground was every where 
cracked and dusty. On the 4th of November, about 
