THE EARTH. 835 



to have been a whirlwind than a water-spout. 

 The season in which it appeared was very dry, 

 the weather extremely hot, and the air very 

 cloudy. After the wind had blown for some time 

 with considerable force, and condensed the black 

 clouds one upon another, a great whirling of the 

 air ensued, upon which the centre of the clouds 

 every now and then darted down in the shape of 

 a thick long black pipe ; in which the relater 

 could distinctly view a motion, like that of a 

 screw, continually screwing up to itself, as it 

 were, whatever it happened to touch. In its pro- 

 gress it moved slowly over a grove of young trees, 

 which it violently bent in a circular motion. 

 Going forward to a barn, it in a minute stript it 

 of all the thatch, and tilled the whole air with the 

 same. As it came near the relater, he perceived 

 that its blackness proceeded from a gyration of 

 the clouds, by contrary winds meeting in a point, 

 or a centre ; and where the greatest force was 

 exerted, there darting down, like an Archimedes's 

 screw, to suck up all that came in its way. Ano- 

 ther which he saw, some time after, was attended 

 with still more terrible effects ; levelling, or tear- 

 ing up great oak trees, catching up the birds in 

 its vortex, and dashing them against the ground. 

 In this manner it proceeded with an audible 

 whirling noise, like that of a mill ; and at length 

 dissolved, after having done much mischief. 



But we must still continue to suspend our as- 

 sent as to the nature even of these land spouts, 

 since they have been sometimes found to drop, 

 in a great column of water, at once upon the 



