WHITE TORNADO. 57 



advice of Dr. Briggs. Curling, the second en- 

 gineer, was rather better. 



On the 13th of October the wind still continued 

 fair, and we had remarkably fine weather. An 

 incident happened in the morning on our meet- 

 ing for prayers that produced considerable amuse- 

 ment at the time, ill corresponding with the gra- 

 vity of the occasion on which we had assembled. 

 Dr. Briggs, who always officiated for us, was just 

 commencing his usual duty, when a white tor- 

 nado came on us, so suddenly without its cus- 

 tomary warning, that in an instant, being un- 

 prepared for it, the whole of us rushed simul- 

 taneously from the poop in all directions for 

 shelter ; Dr. Briggs and I made a short cut 

 through the skylight into the cabin, while the 

 seamen, with their characteristic love of mischief, 

 prevented the engineers from getting below until 

 their clothes were thoroughly drenched by the 

 torrents of rain which accompanied the squall. 

 On this part of the coast tornadoes are fre- 

 quent ; but, excepting one similar to that which 

 we experienced this morning, — and it was not at 

 all violent, — they always give warning ; — in fact, 

 I never saw more than three or four that did not 

 give timely notice of their approach. 



