16 A CALM. 
we were detained nine days in the Channel by 
calms, before we could reach the Atlantic 
Ocean. 
Here a fresh north wind occasioned near 
our track the appearance called a_water-spout ; 
which consists of a three-cornered mass of 
foaming water, with the point towards the sea, 
and the broad upper surface covered with a 
black cloud.—We now held a southerly course, 
and after encountering much rough weather, on 
the 22d of September reached the parallel of 
Lisbon, where we enjoyed the warmer tempera- 
ture, and congratulated ourselves on having left 
behind us the region of storms. We steered 
straight for the island of Teneriffe, where we 
intended providing ourselves with wine. A 
fresh tradé-wind carried us rapidly and smooth- 
ly forward ; the whole crew was in fine health 
and cheered by one of the most beautiful morn- 
ings of this climate, when our pleasure in the 
near prospect of a residence on this charming is- 
land was most painfully interrupted by the ac- 
cident of a sailor falling overboard. The ra- 
pidity with which we were driving before the 
wind frustrated all our efforts to save him, and 
