202 VOYAGE TO THE 



C viif' While we were off Clermont Tonnere, we had a 

 v — "v-*-' narrow escape from a water- spout of more than 

 1826. ordinary size. It approached us amidst heavy rain, 

 thunder, and lightning, and was not seen until it 

 was very near to the ship. As soon as we were 

 within its influence, a gust of wind obliged us to 

 take in every sail, and the topsails, which could not 

 be furled in time, were in danger of splitting. The 

 wind blew with great violence, momentarily chang- 

 ing its direction, as if it were sweeping round in 

 short spirals ; the rain, which fell in torrents, was 

 also precipitated in curves with short intervals of 

 cessation. Amidst this thick shower the water- 

 spout was discovered, extending in a tapering form 

 from a dense stratum of cloud, to within thirty feet 

 of the water where it was hid, by the foam of the 

 sea being whirled upwards with a tremendous gira- 

 tion. It changed its direction after it was first seen, 

 and threatened to pass over the ship ; but being 

 diverted from its course by a heavy gust of wind, it 

 gradually receded. On the dispersion of this mag- 

 nificent phenomenon, we observed the column to 

 diminish gradually, and at length to retire to the 

 cloud, from whence it had descended, in an undu- 

 lating form. 



Various causes have been assigned for these for- 

 mations, which appear to be intimately connected 

 with electricity. On the present occasion a ball of 

 fire was observed to be precipitated into the sea, and 

 one of the boats, which was away from the ship, was 

 so surrounded by lightning, that Lieutenant Belcher 

 thought it advisable to get rid of the anchor, by 

 hanging it some fathoms under water, and to cover 

 the seamen's muskets. From the accounts of this 



