THE CLOUDS 97 



nature as any other cloud, can and does hold, as in 

 a vast bag, a mass of solid water hundreds of tons, 

 yea ! even thousands of tons in weight, and, propelled 

 by the wind, carries it for enormous distances until 

 some external force, such as collision with a mountain- 

 top, the rending force of electricity, or the atmo- 

 spheric concussion of the thunder, splits the impalpable 

 envelope apart and lets its contents fall. 



Now in this there is no flight of fancy ; the fact is 

 indisputable, and if any confirmation of it were needed 

 it would be found in the often-recorded cases of small 

 fish and immature frogs which have been carried for 

 immense distances in the bosom of a cloud as in an 

 aerial lake, and then let fall, scattered over the land 

 to the utter amazement and often superstitious fear of 

 the beholders. What is even more wonderful, if that 

 be possible, is the manner in which the water of the 

 ocean is raised in such masses to such a tremendous 

 height into the air; also how, in the brief space of 

 time occupied in its transmission, that water is robbed 

 of its salinity, becomes fresh and sweet. It is quite 

 easy for even a low order of intellect to comprehend 

 how, by the process of condensation or evaporation, 

 the solid matter in the sea, the saline particles, are left 

 behind, while the purified vapour rises into the air 

 under the influence of the sun's heat. But this throws 

 no light upon the much-debated question of the water- 

 spout, of the way in which a previously prepared cloud 

 sags down to the sea and extends a long hollow pillar 

 of its own material downwards until it makes a juncture 

 with the waters beneath, agitated in sympathy with 

 it. I have touched upon this matter before in these 

 pages, but offer no apology for referring to it again 



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