256 On Water-Spouts. 



tion whence the water-spout came. This is easily explained by 

 the supposition that currents of air, near the earth's surface, move 

 every where towards the centre of that place in which the water- 

 spout is for the moment ; whence it follows, that, round the an- 

 terior half of the latter, streams of air must occur in which the 

 east is the prevalent direction, while the western direction is the 

 predominant one in the currents round the posterior half. In 

 some places, where it appeared that the water-spout had receded 

 for some time, and had again descended, it was ascertained, that 

 the overturned trees were turned with their summits to a com- 

 mon center. Many circumstances also demonstrated to the ob- 

 servers, that a rarefaction of the air in the interior of the water- 

 spout, and one of great extent, had occurred. Not only were 

 roofs and the upper coverings of houses removed, but even floors 

 were broken up ; a phenomenon not easily explained, unless we 

 assume that the pressure of the air from without had become 

 very rapidly and greatly diminished, so that the expansive force 

 of the inclosed air must have acquired a very considerable pre- 

 ponderance. Many other efiects of this same water-spout con- 

 firm this belief. Walls and windows were often thrown or 

 broken outwards. In one house which had suffered much from 

 the water-spout, a bed cover was pressed into a crack in the wall, 

 and remained as firmly fixed as though it had been intentionally 

 thrust into it ; a pocket handkerchief likewise was found in a 

 crack of the opposite wall. Those objects which had been trans- 

 ported by the water-spout, were conveyed to the north side, and 

 to a greater or less distance, according to their greater or less 

 weight. 



iSoimd and Smell of Water- Spouts. — Water-spouts are often 

 accompanied by a violent noise, which, for the most part, has 

 been compared to the sound of many heavily laden waggons mov- 

 ing over a stone pavement, or to the breaking of the waves of 

 an agitated sea against the coast ; but, by some, has been said 

 to resemble the roar of a great waterfall. Besides these great 

 noises, a whistling or piping sound has not unfrequently been 

 heard. 



Water-spouts often leave behind a sulpiiureous smell, and there 

 are examples of a disagreeable smell remaining along the whole 

 tract traversed by them. One individual, however, who became 

 involved in a water-spout, perceived no odor. 



