47 



will, with a spring-tide, turn any vessel quite round, 

 There have been instances of bouts being swallowed np 

 in them. The cavity is largest when it is first formed, 

 and is carried along with the stream, diminishing gradu- 

 ally as it goes, until it quite disappears. The suction 

 communicated to the water, does not extend further than 

 the cavity. When fishermen are aware of their ap- 

 proach to one of these wells, as they call them, and 

 have time to throw an ore or any other bulky body 

 into if, before they are too near, the spiral motion 

 is interrupted, and the continuity of the water broke; 

 which rushing in on all sides, fills up the cavity, end en- 

 ables them to go over it safe. 



The Maelstroom, is a whirlpool on the coast of Nor- 

 way, and received this name from the natives, which sig- 

 nifies the naval of the sea; since they supposed a great 

 share of the water of the sea is sucked up and dis- 

 charged by its vortex. A description of the internal 

 parts is not to be expected, since none ever returned 

 thence to bring information. The body of waters that 

 form this whirlpool are extended in a circle about thir- 

 teen miles in, 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, 4imber, and shipping. No skill in the mariners, 

 nor strength in rowing, can work an escape : the sailor 

 at the helm finds the ship first go in a current opposite 

 to his intentions ; his vessel's motion, though slow in the 

 beginning, becomes every moment more rapid ; and it 

 goes round in circles still narrower and narrower, till at 

 last it is dashed against the rocks, and instantly disap- 

 pears : nor is it seen again for six hours; till the tide 

 turning, it is vomitted forth with the same violence with 

 which it was drawn in. The noise of this vortex in- 

 creases its terror, which, with the dashing of the wa- 

 ters, and the dreadful valley covered by their circu- 

 lation, makes one of the most tremendous objects in 

 nature. 



