230 HISTORY or 



it has received from the natives, signifies the navel 

 of the sea; since they suppose, that a great share of 

 the water of the sea is sucked up, and discharged 

 by its vortex. A minute description of the inter- 

 nal parts is not to be expected, since none who 

 were there ever returned to bring back informa- 

 tion. The body of the waters that form this whirl- 

 pool, are extended in a circle above thirteen miles 

 iii circumference.* In the midst of this stands a 

 rock, against which the tide in its ebb is dashed 

 with inconceivable fury. At this time it instantly 

 swallows up all things that come within the sphere 

 of its violence ; trees, timber, and shipping. No 

 skill in the mariner, nor strength of rowing can 

 work an escape : the sailor at the helm finds the 

 ship at first go in a current opposite to his inten- 

 tions ; his vessel's motion, though slow in the be- 

 ginning, becomes every moment more rapid ; it 

 goes round in circles still narrower and narrower, 

 till at last it is dashed against the rocks, and in- 

 stantly disappears : nor is it seen again for six 

 hours, till the tide flowing, it is vomited forth 

 with the same violence with which it was drawn 

 in. The noise of this dreadful vortex still farther 

 contributes to increase its terror, which, with 

 the dashing of the waters, and the dreadful valley, 

 if it may be so called, caused by their circulation, 

 makes one of the most tremendous objects in 

 nature. 



* Kircher, Mund. Subt. vol. i. p. 156. 



