331 



sates the effect of the height of the spot, and 

 the thinness of the air, on the table -lands. The 

 elevated strata of the atmosphere, when they 

 envelop the ridges of the mountain, experience 

 rapid changes in their transparency. 



The night of the 11th of November was cool 

 and extremely beautiful *. Toward the morn- 

 ing, from half after two, the most extraordinary 

 luminous meteors were seen toward the east. 

 Mr. Bonpland, who had risen to enjoy the 

 freshness of the air in the gallery, perceived 

 them first. Thousands of bolides and falling 

 stars succeeded each other during four hours. 

 Their direction was very regularly from north 

 to south. They filled a space in the sky ex- 

 tending from the true east 30° toward the 

 north and south. In an amplitude of 60° the 

 meteors were seen to rise above the horizon 

 at E. N. E. and at E., describe arcs more or 

 less extended, and fall toward the south, after 

 having followed the direction of the meridian -f^. 

 Some of them attained a height of 40°, and 

 all exceeded 25° or 30°. There was very little 

 wind in the low regions of the atmosphere, 



* Cent. Therm, at 11 at night, 21 8°. Hygr. 82°. No 

 twinkling of the stars above 10° of elevation. 



f This uniform direction struck also several inhabitants 

 of Nueva Barcelona, who mentioned it to us at our return 

 from the Oroonoko, without our having spoken to them of 

 the observations at Cumana. 



