HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
calculated to promote these aerial fires. M. Gentil saw one of this kind, the 1st of 
December, 1760, at the height of about eighteen degrees from the extremity of the 
port. It was full twenty minutes in diameter, and divided instantly into two small 
pyramids, or flames of fire, which remained nearly at the same height, while a 
small detached portion of it descended some degrees lower. The whole passed off 
without explosion, and lasted at most five or six seconds, with a very luminous 
effect during its passage. 
On the 11th of June, 1762, at three quarters of an hour after sunset, another of 
these fiery meteors was seen in the environs of the zenith, which was larger in ap¬ 
pearance than the sun or moon, and surrounded with flaming hair. It passed on 
with considerable rapidity to the south east, and was extinguished without any 
explosion, behind the top of the mountains, dragging after it a tail like that of a 
sky rocket. It was about thirty seconds in its passage. 
The following Letter was addressed by M. Fortin , to Mr. Abraham , at the 
Isle of France. 
6< You must have perceived the meteor that appeared yesterday evening, and I 
send you the result of my observations. 
<s I was sitting before my house, when two flashes of lightning, immediately suc¬ 
ceeding each other, and of a fiery red, struck my eyes so forcibly, that I imagined 
some part of my buildings had taken fire. I arose immediately, and not see¬ 
ing any appearance about me that justified my alarm, I turned my eyes towards 
the sky, when I perceived two small clouds of smoke, like those produced by 
bombs when they burst in the air. I hastened instantly to my pendulum, when 
I observed that it was six o’clock, nine minutes, and about fifteen seconds. I 
then returned as hastily to examine these small clouds. Some time after, two 
claps rapidly succeeded each other, like two very loud reports of a cannon, 
which notwithstanding appeared to proceed from a great distance; they re¬ 
echoed afterwards in the air for a moment. I ran instantly to the clock, and found 
it to be six o’clock, thirteen minutes, and about four seconds. So that allowing 
for the time in going to and returning from the clock, the total duration of this 
phcenomenon was three minutes and forty-five seconds, which appear to give a great 
distance.” 
