74 Whirlwinds produced by the Burning of Cane- Brakes. 



tinguished entirely, but towards the top it broke out anew. 

 It was a mixed whirling of flame and smoke, the smoke oc- 

 cupying the central portion. The dark interval where the 

 smoke was unconsumed was greater or less, as the flame 

 above approached to, or receded from, that beneath. There 

 were a number of this class. The fourth kind were formed 

 oF immense columns of smoke, so narrow and lofty that they 

 resembled towers of several hundred feet, or trunks like those 

 of trees in form, extending into the sky. The rotary motion 

 was obvious throughout their entire length. These columns 

 of smoke were generally straight, but sometimes bent at the 

 top by the wind. In connection with the whirlwinds there 

 were several other facts of interest observed during the 

 burning of the cane. We noticed the direction of the wind 

 was changed. At first it was from the north-east, and con- 

 tinued in that direction in the upper part of the atmosphere, 

 as was evident from the way in which the columns of smoke 

 were bent. But shortly after the commencement of the burn- 

 ing the air beneath blew in. all directions towards the centre 

 of the fire. The columns of smoke were not bent for more 

 than a hundred yards; hence up to that height the wind 

 blew in all directions towards the centre of the fire. These 

 whirlwinds revolved on their axes from right to left, and 

 from left to right, \vdtliout any prevailing tendency to one 

 direction more than to the other. Frequently the same whirl- 

 wind would change the direction in which it revolved, and 

 would again return to its first course. In a few instances 

 this was repeated several times. The charred leaves of cane 

 being thin and light, were driven ofi" in considerable quan- 

 tities. They were carried up frequently without being 

 burned, and were sometimes found at a distance from the 

 place of the fire. But considering the extent of the fire, few 

 cinders were carried up. The combustion was very com- 

 plete." — American Annual of Scientific Discovery^ 1851, p. 

 163. 



