180 MR. MACLEAR ON THE FALL OF THE COLD BOKKEVELD METEOROLITE, 
which was my impression after the conversation with Mr. Menzies, who at the time 
of the explosion was resting at the Blood River, ninety miles N.E.* of the Bokkeveld, 
in company with Mr. G. Thompson. But the witnesses in the Bokkeveld prove the 
contrary, which is further confirmed by the following extract from a letter of Mr. G. 
Thompson’s to me. 
“ The meteor appeared to the best of my judgment to approach from the west with 
great velocity, and precisely similar to a Congreve rocket of large dimensions. The 
phenomenon expanded nearly overhead, and apparently not more than 3 or 400 feet 
high, dispersing in large globes the size of forty-two pound shot, of quicksilvery ap- 
pearance. These fell for a few seconds towards the earth and vanished.” 
The latter part of this paragraph exhibits an optical deception as to distance, if 
“ the separation into globes” was the explosion over the Bokkeveld. For be it re- 
membered Mr. Thompson did not hear any noise, and the stations are separated by 
at least ninety miles. 
If the object he saw was a portion of the meteor moving on beyond the Bokkeveld, 
most likely the dispersion would have been followed by a report. The first supposi- 
tion is probable, and tends to prove that the object was much elevated when it ex- 
ploded. 
Mr. Thompson also learned that the explosion was heard within a few miles of 
Clanwilliam ; on the Zonder-End River, and the Cape Downs ! 
With reference to the accuracy of the map, I verified the azimuth direction of the 
line of flight, as it was pointed out to us, with a small azimuth compass. The distance 
between De Toit’s and the Schurfde Berg did not appear to us twenty-five miles, but 
on the whole it is sufficiently correct to explain a matter of this kind. 
I forgot to mention that the witnesses described the heavens as being perfectly 
free from clouds and calm at the time. 
If you think this communication, with Dr. Treuter’s letters and Kieviet’s affidavit, 
worthy of the attention of the Royal Society, be pleased to place them on the table. 
Believe me, dear Sir John, 
Yours, ever faithfully. 
To Sir J. F. W. Herschel, Bart., 
8$c. 8$c. fyc. 
Thomas Maclear. 
* From the plan, this again would appear to be an error of transcription, N.E. for S.E. — S. H. C. 
