400 
ATMOSPHERICAL PUENOME>>-'- 
novth and south. In an amplitude of 60 ® j t 
seen to rise above the horizon at east-north-eas ’ ■■ 
to describe arcs more or less extended, 1' ^ 
south, cfter having followed the direction ot 
Some of them attained a height of - 40 ®i f 
3^5" or 30 ®, There was very little wind in the ^ 
\Ji %J\J , XllL^lW V» tu T Vi^i jr iXLCAw 
of the atmosphere, and tliis blew from the ej’* ijtSi j 
of clouds was to be seen. M. Bonplanh ^ y 
in “ 
OI ClOUtlS was lU uc accii. i»A. . .y/j 
from the beginning of the phenomenon, th 
space in tlie firmament equal in extent to t r 
or- the moon, which was not filled at - ;n 
bolides and falling stars. The first were 
but as they were seen of different sizes, it ' },ei 
to fix the limit between these two classes n 
All these meteors left luminous traces ^ e<l‘'V 
degrees in length, as often happens in » luf j; 
regions. The phosphorescence of tliesetrac > tl'“’ ,'y , 
bands, lasted seven or eight seconds. Many “ Ir 
stars had a very distinct nucleus, as latg® ^jigli'' il'’' 
Jupiter, from which darted sparks of vivin 
bolides seemed to burst as by explosi 
'Sion 
7 buttbel>i=y 
from- T to 1° 15 ' in diameter, disappem'i^ 
:d 
Ill . , ball‘d ',;A 
tillation, leaving behind them phosphorescen _ g( 
exceeding in breadth fifteen or twenty 
parts of a degree. The light of these me d x 
- ■ ■ ■ • • • ' attributed^J^^,j,af^ 
^.u.. -3 W_> 
and not reddish, which must bs 
the absence of vapours, and tlie extreme _ 
the air. For the same reason, under the ti K e 
of the first magnitude have, at their rising) 
“ Almost all the* inhabitants of Humana 
of this phenomenhn, and did not behold t ’ jiy 
indifierence : the oldest among them Wj, Si 
whiter than in Europe. 
inhabitants of Cumana )jo''^i V 
■■ 
tlie great eai-thquakcs of 17O6 were preced 
ttilVi VAIS,* 4.4WI. ' 
the oldest among them j W 
phenomena. The fishermen in the j^l 
the fire- work had begun at one o’clock ; ^ > / 
„ i-. .1,., n.„lf rhev ha“ 
returned from fishing in the Gulf, they 
ceived very small falling stars toward 
affirmed at the same time, that igneous 
•laillljcu 111. mv- .J.iiii,. 00^ 
tiemely rare on those coasts alter two in tn 0 \i\ 
“ The phenomenon ceased by degrees a j 
and the bolides and falling stars becam® 
)c - igiS 
iftf if (<^ 
