In the centre of the heavens above us, the sun began to break through the
mist, forming a clear space, which, as it grew wider by the gradual
retreat of the mist and clouds, was enclosed or surrounded by a complete
circle of hazy light, much brighter than the general aspect of the
atmosphere, but not so brilliant as the sun itself. This circle was about
half as broad as the apparent size of the sun, through which it seemed to
pass, while on each side of the sun, at about the distance of a sixth of
the circumference of the ring, which likewise traversed them, were
situated two mock suns, resembling the real sun in everything but
brightness, and on the opposite side of the circle two other mock suns
were placed, distant from each other about a third of the circuit of the
band of light, forming altogether five suns, one real and four fictitious
luminaries, through which a broad hoop of subdued light ran round an area
of slightly hazy blue sky. The centre of this area was occupied by a
small segment of a rainbow, the concave side of which was turned from the
true sun, while on its convex edge, in contact with it at its most
prominent part, was stretched a broad straight band of prismatic colours,
similar to the rainbow in all but curvature. Across the space, within the
circle of light, there was a broad stream of dusky cloud, formed of
three distinct streaks, and reaching from one of the most distant mock
suns to another opposite to it, in the shape of a low arch; but in a
little while one extremity of this bar moved away from its original
position, while the other end remained stationary, leading me to suppose
that it was merely an accidental piece of cloud.
As noon approached, or rather as the clouds dispersed, the blue hazy sky
extended beyond the ring of light, and while the day advanced, and the
heavens grew more clear, the whole meteor gradually disappeared, the
circle vanishing first, and then the imitative suns. My companions
assured me they had never before witnessed a similar exhibition during
voyages in these seas; but more learned Thebans describe them as
phenomena frequently witnessed in high latitudes, and have assigned them
the designation of parhelia. There was, during this solar panorama, a
large and complete semicircle of haze, lighter in colour than the
surrounding fog, resting on the horizon perpendicularly, like a rainbow,
but this appearance my associates informed me was familiar to their
sight.--_Tales of a Voyager in the Arctic Ocean_.
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