346 



total absence even of the smallest clouds, at 

 certain seasons, or above some barren plains 

 destitute of vegetation, seem to prove, that this 

 influence can be felt at least as far as five or 

 six thousand toises high. A phenomenon ana- 

 logous to that of the 12th of November was ob- 

 served thirty years before, on the table-land of 

 the Andes, in a country studded with volca- 

 noes. At the city of Quito there was seen in 

 one part of the sky, above the volcano of Cay- 

 ambo, so great a number of falling stars, that 

 the mountain was thought to be in flames. 

 This singular sight lasted more than an hour. 

 The people assembled in the plain of Exido, 

 where a magnificent view presents itself of the 

 highest summits of the Cordilleras. A proces- 

 sion was already on the point of setting out 

 from the Convent of St. Francis, when it was 

 perceived, that the blaze on the horizon was 

 caused by fiery meteors, which ran along the 

 skies in all directions, at the altitude of twelve 

 or thirteen degrees. 



