NATURAL HISTORY. 
427 
current in the air, flowed in quite a contrary direction, and the 
wind, if at the time there was any, blew from the west, as 
indicated by the smoke. At one time, the surface of the earth 
was, for a few feet, completely illuminated. After watching 
them for a long time, until the eye was completely wearied, I 
laid down, when I noticed that the lights were more visible 
than when I stood up, which might arise from their being so 
near the surface of the earth, and my seeing under them. 
In returning again through the same forest, I had another 
opportunity of seeing the Ignis Fatuus in the same place. It 
was then a beautiful moonlight night; but, from the denseness 
of the forest, little benefit was derived from its rays. In this 
instance, there were two lights seen hovering over the river, at 
about two feet from its surface. They were nearly stationary, 
and shone so brightly, that, although the natives were engaged 
in fishing with lighted brands, they were not eclipsed. In that 
neighbourhood there are many large kauri pines, and it is not 
improbable that the decomposed remains of these highly resi¬ 
nous trees have had something to do with this phenomenon. 
The Fens of Ely and Lincoln, were formerly notorious for 
their unwholsome fogs and miasma, as well as for the frequent 
appearance of the Ignis Fatuus, which might be seen in all 
directions every dark night. Of late years, it has been more 
rarely observed, and during the time I held a curacy in the 
heart of the Fens,* a period of more than five years, I only 
noticed it twice. 
On one of these occasions, a dark, rainy night, in returning 
home from a distant church in the Fens, I had an opportunity 
of seeing this singular light. At first, I took it for a man with 
a lantern, and being anxious to share the benefit of it, as well 
as to gain a companion, I quickened my step, to get up with 
him, walking through thick and thin—for the road was deep 
in mud ; but I got no nearer: the light still kept at the 
same distance from me. I therefore stood still, and listened 
whether I could hear any footsteps, and was then suipiised 
to see the light dancing about, from one side of the road to 
the other: sometimes sinking to the level of the earth, and 
* Coveney and Manea, in the Isle of Ely, a complete Missionary post. 
