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to flit about, and altogether they have a very uncanny appearance. 

 At close quarters they become invisible, although they may be 

 plainly seen from the deck or at 20 or 30 feet distant. The Straits 

 of Malacca, during the S. W. Monsoon, are often visited with 

 severe thunder-storms, and at such times St. Elmo's fires may 

 occasionally be seen. No damage has ever been known to arise 

 from them, although instances have been reported of them 

 hissing and fizzing like burning damp gunpowder, but this 

 I have never observed, and I expect it can be explained by the 

 rain beating heavily on the yard. These lights seem to be 

 simply a form of Electrical display of the nature of the Brush 

 discharge of an Electrical Machine. The words "Comozant" 

 or " Corposant" are a corruption from Corpus Sanctum. 



Water Spouts at Sea. 



A water spout in close proximity to a vessel at sea is an ugly 

 looking customer, for in whatever direction you steer the thing 

 seems to be closing down on you. The water seems to be much 

 disturbed and torn up as the spiral column passes. It appears 

 in the distance to be very dense, but on a near approach it 

 becomes more transparent, and seems then to be made up of 

 mist. I have never known any damage to arise from them, and 

 have had one pass over the vessel in the Mediterranean. This 

 happened at night and under heavy rain and a sharp flutter of an 

 awning which happened to be spread at the time, but there was 

 no damage at all. Had sail been set at the time, I dare say 

 some damage would have been caused. I have noticed eleven 

 water-spouts visible at one time in that sea. 



Curious effect on a Ship struck by Lightning. 



In the year 1859 I was at anchor in Manila Bay, and near 

 us was a wooden British barque. During a violent thunder 

 storm the electric fluid struck the copper spindle at the main-top 

 gallant mast head, ran down the lightning conductor and fused it. 

 The conductor was of the old link type, resembling a surveyor's 

 measuring chain. Some six feet or so of these links fell on deck 

 across the chain cable, and they must have been highly charged 

 with electricity, for the fluid ran along the cable forward, tore off" 

 all the iron whelps of the windlass, and went out through the 

 hause pipe into the sea. You may form some idea of the intense 

 heat caused by the sparks given out by these links. They 

 splashed against the skylight windows and melted the glass as 

 readily as a hot poker would melt a bladder of lard ; the melted 

 glass ran down for an inch or two like so much molten lead. 

 The decks were charred in many places, but the torrents of rain 

 falling effectually prevented any serious damage. I was on board 



