OP LA PER0USE. 295 



we were under the equator, in the longitude of 

 1 35 40' eaft, when we faw, at the diftance of 

 one third of a myriameter, a very confiderable 

 water-fpout forming to the fouth-weft. Al- 

 though the air was perfectly (till around us, 

 the fea was agitated and frothy at the fpot 

 where the water-fpout originated. A very fmall 

 cloud was ftationary at a few decimeters above 

 the place whence it rofe. This water-fpout had 

 the form of two very elongated cones, united at 

 their fummit ; jthe bafe of one of thefe cones 

 relied on the fea, that of the other was loft in a 

 very thick cloud. 



The clouds feemed to me agitated by a whirl- 

 wind, which, collecting a great quantity of 

 water, was pouring down in torrents : perhaps 

 all water- fpouts are formed in this manner. If, 

 as many natural philofophers affert, a water- 

 fpout fucked up the water of the fea in a great vo- 

 lume, this water ought to be as fait at the time 

 of its fall, as at the moment of its elevation, 

 which by no means accords with experience : a 

 perfon worthy of credit, who faw two fall on 

 board a fhip, allured me, that they had con- 

 ilantly difcharged frefh water. In the contrary 

 fuppolition, this phenomenon is eafy to be ex* 

 plained. 



The limpidity of the fea-water was changed 



during the whole day of the 9th by a focus, con- 



v 4 filling 



