328 THE OCEAN. 



or descending line. Generally, the body of clonds 

 above descend below the common level, joining the 

 pillar in the form of a funnel, but sometimes the 

 summit is invisible, from its becoming gradually 

 more rare. Much more constant is the presence of 

 a visible foot ; the sea being raised in a great heap, 

 with a V hirling and bubbling motion, the upper part 

 of which is lost in the mass of spray and foam which 

 is driven rapidly round. The column, or columns, 

 for there are frequently more than one, move slowly 

 forward with a stately and majestic step, sometimes 

 inclining from the perpendicular, now becoming 

 curved, and now taking a twisted form. Sometimes 

 the mass becomes more and more transparent, and 

 gradually vanishes ; at others, it separates, the base 

 subsiding, and the upper portion shortening with a 

 whirling motion, till lost in the clouds. The pillar 

 is not always cylindrical : a very frequent form is 

 that of a slender funnel depending from the sky, 

 which sometimes retains that appearance without 

 alteration, or, at others, lengthens its tube towards 

 the sea, which at the same time begins to boil and 

 rise in a hill to meet it, and soon the two unite and 

 form a slender column, as first described. 



When these sublime appearances are viewed from 

 a short distance, they are attended with a rushing 

 noise, somewhat like the roar of a cataract. The 

 phenomenon is doubtless the effect of a whirlwind, 

 or current of air revolving with great rapidity and 

 violence ; and the lines which are seen are probably 

 drops of water ascending in the cloudy column. 

 They are esteemed highly dangerous : instances ha\e 



