Miscellanies. 399 



high estimation in which I hold the conduct of the officers, seamen, and 

 marines, during this antarctic cruise, the manner and spirit, together with 

 the coolness and alacrity with which they have met the dangers and per- 

 formed their duties. I trust that they will receive from the government 

 some gratifying notice of it. All 1 can say in their favor would fall far 

 short of what they deserve. 



I shall ever bear testimony that they have proved themselves worthy of 

 the high character borne by our countrymen, and the navy to which they 

 belong. 



I have the honor to be, sir, most respectfully your obedient servant, 



Charles Wilkes, 

 Com'g Exploring Expedition of tlie United States. 

 To the Hon. James K. Paulding, Sec'y of the Navy, Washington City. 



Note. — After cruising among the isles of Oceanica, the squadron arrived 

 at the Sandwich isles, October, 1840, having sustained the melancholy 

 loss of Lieut. J. A. Underwood, and midshipman Wilkes Henry, who 

 were murdered July 25, by the natives at Malao, one of the Fejee isles. 



2. Theory of Water Spouts and Tornadoes. — A few weeks since a 

 large kettle of water, which having been used for washing, was covered 

 with a thick smooth scum of curdled soap, was hanging over the kitchen 

 fire, and though there was no ebullition, a dense volume of steam was 

 rising from it, and with a rapid whirling motion ascending the chimney. 

 My attention was drawn to it from the fact, that the movement of the 

 steam was affording additional proof of the general course of all atmos- 

 pheric currents from right to left, according to the theory of Mr. Redfield, 

 a theory, of which thus far, we have frequently noticed the verification. 

 The steam whirl formed immediately over the surface of the kettle, and 

 made a column some two or three inches in diameter, for about eighteen 

 inches in length, when it disappeared behind the mantle of the chimney. 

 In the centre of the whirling column of steam, which rotated with aston- 

 ishing rapidity, a clear space could be seen, distinctly marked by a differ- 

 ence in color, showing that the pillar was a tube. As in obedience to the 

 different currents of air in the room, the column changed its position over 

 the surface of the kettle, we observed the movement was accompanied at 

 times with a curious agitation, which at first was supposed to be mere 

 ebullition ; but from its being always under the centre of the column, be- 

 ing most violent where the whirl approached nearest its surface, and shift- 

 ing position with it, was soon perceived to be owing to that. 



The appearance was as if a man's hand was moved under the surface, 

 at times protruding his forefinger upwards, and lifting the scum, or rather 

 forcing the finger through it to its full extent. It occurred to us at once 

 as a fine illustration of the commencement of a water spout, and we con- 

 tinued our examination for some time until the general motion of the sur- 



