118 WATERSPOUTS IN THE SOUTH SEAS. 



more frequently a little bent, and thicker above and 

 below than in the centre of the column. 



Mr. Ellis, the missionary, in his " Polynesian 

 Researches," mentions having, with a companion, 

 met and narrowly escaped being overwhelmed by 

 several waterspouts, when passing on one occasion 

 in an open boat between two islands about thirty 

 miles apart. On the passage they were overtaken 

 by a sudden and violent squall, which lasted several 

 hours; and, in order to avoid being sunk, they tied 

 their masts, oars, and sails in a bundle, and attach- 

 ing a rope to them, and to the boat, cast them into 

 the sea. Thus they lay, as it were, at anchor in 

 the lee of this extemporized breakwater. It was 

 but a feeble barrier, however, against so wild a 

 storm, and the native boatmen were so overcome 

 by fear, that they sat down in the bottom of the 

 boat, and covered their eyes with their hands. 



After a time the rain diminished, the sky began 

 to clear, and the boat's crew to revive, when sud- 

 denly one of the men uttered a cry of consternation, 

 and pointed to an object towards which all eyes 

 were instantly turned. They beheld a large cylin- 

 drical waterspout, extending, like a massive column, 

 from the ocean to the dark and impending clouds. 

 It was not far distant, and seemed to move slowly 

 towards the boat. 



Had Mr. Ellis had any doubt as to the danger of 

 a waterspout, the extreme terror exhibited by the 

 natives on this occasion must have removed it ; for 



