CLIMATE kc, NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI. 55 



universally to consist of a vortex with a central spot in a state 

 of profound calm, which spot will probably be greater or less 

 according to the magnitude of the vortex. 



No circumstance occurred to me which might justify the 

 hypothesis of the celebrated Franklin who supposed the center 

 of a whirlwind or waterspout to be a true vacuum capable of 

 elevating water to the height of 30 or more feet. It is by no 

 means decided that those two phenomena are of the same 

 species. Whirlwinds are always perpendicular to the horizon 

 and are, I believe, never stationary: an intelligent friend of 

 mine once saw (what he supposed to be) a waterspout descend 

 from a low cloud into the Mississippi, it made a very consider- 

 able angle with the perpendicular and its inferior extremity 

 remained fixed to one spot during the whole time of its ap- 

 pearance, the very gentle progress of the cloud seemed to 

 prolong the spout, so that at length it separated into two parts, 

 the interior division, winch was by much the shortest, falling 

 into the Mississippi, and the superior slowly ascending until it 

 became united to the cloud. 



No. X, 



Abstract of a communication from Mr. Martin Duralde, relative 

 to fossil bones, Kc. of the Country of Apelousas west of the 

 Mississippi to Mr. William Dunbar of the NatcJtez, and by 

 him transmitted to the Society. Dated April l 2ith 1802. 



Read Morch 4th, 1803. 



THE Country of the Apelousas, although favoured by 

 the goodness of the soil and the salubrity of the climate, is 

 subjected to the disadvantage of not being furnished with 

 springs sufficiently permanent to supply the wants of the in- 

 habitants and their cattle; which renders wells necessary at 

 any distance from the rivers. In digging of these wells, which 

 are of considerable depth, bones and other articles have been 

 discovered, some of which arc ennumerated as follows. 



At the widow Moreau's, a human scull, in a very decayed 

 state, was found at the depth of 30 to 35 feet below the sur- 



