DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0184
158 kirby’s wonderful museum.
times so low, as to frighten the mules by buzzing about their
ears and feet. But a phenomenon, which in this climate must
appear very extraordinary, is said by M. Bouguer to hap-
pen almost every day on the tops of these mountains ; though
these gentlemen were the first who ever mentioned them in
Europe. The first time our authors observed it was, when
they were on the summit of Pambamorea, a mountain not
so high as Pichincha. A cloud, in which they were involved
at break of day dissipating, they saw the rising sun extremely
splendid, and the cloud passed on the other side, opposite to
the sun, where it appeared very thin, and was about twenty
yards distant from the place where they were standing, when
each of them saw in it, as in a looking-glass, his own image,
and, what appeared still more extraordinary, the head was
encompassed with a glory, like that seen round the heads of
Saints in pictures; each head being as it were, the centre
of three concentric irises of very lively colours, and each
with the same varieties as a rainbow, the red being outward;
the last or most external colours of one touched the first of
the following; and, at some distance from them all, was a
fourth arch, entirely white. These were perpendicular to
the horizon; and, as the person moved, the phenomenon
moved also. But, what was very extraordinary, though
there were six or seven persons, each could see none but his
own shadow, because the cloud had an uneven surface.
The diameter of the arches gradually, altered with the ascent
of the sun above the horizon, and the phenomenon itself,
after continuing a considerable time, insensibly vanished.
Several of the gentlemen, both French and Spaniards, have
particularly described this phenomenon, and M. Bouguer
concludes with saying, “ This wras a kind of apotheosis to
each spectator;—and I cannot forbear mentioning again, that
each enjoyed the secret pleasure of seeing himself adorned
with all these crowns, without perceiving those of his neigh-
times so low, as to frighten the mules by buzzing about their
ears and feet. But a phenomenon, which in this climate must
appear very extraordinary, is said by M. Bouguer to hap-
pen almost every day on the tops of these mountains ; though
these gentlemen were the first who ever mentioned them in
Europe. The first time our authors observed it was, when
they were on the summit of Pambamorea, a mountain not
so high as Pichincha. A cloud, in which they were involved
at break of day dissipating, they saw the rising sun extremely
splendid, and the cloud passed on the other side, opposite to
the sun, where it appeared very thin, and was about twenty
yards distant from the place where they were standing, when
each of them saw in it, as in a looking-glass, his own image,
and, what appeared still more extraordinary, the head was
encompassed with a glory, like that seen round the heads of
Saints in pictures; each head being as it were, the centre
of three concentric irises of very lively colours, and each
with the same varieties as a rainbow, the red being outward;
the last or most external colours of one touched the first of
the following; and, at some distance from them all, was a
fourth arch, entirely white. These were perpendicular to
the horizon; and, as the person moved, the phenomenon
moved also. But, what was very extraordinary, though
there were six or seven persons, each could see none but his
own shadow, because the cloud had an uneven surface.
The diameter of the arches gradually, altered with the ascent
of the sun above the horizon, and the phenomenon itself,
after continuing a considerable time, insensibly vanished.
Several of the gentlemen, both French and Spaniards, have
particularly described this phenomenon, and M. Bouguer
concludes with saying, “ This wras a kind of apotheosis to
each spectator;—and I cannot forbear mentioning again, that
each enjoyed the secret pleasure of seeing himself adorned
with all these crowns, without perceiving those of his neigh-