172 Account of a Water Spout-. 



from which little scirrhi were continually darting and disap- 

 pearing, the water remaining the same as before. This ap- 

 pearance continued two or three minutes, after which the 

 cone gradually elongated itself, assumed the cylindrical shape 

 (except near its junction with the rest of the cloud) and de- 

 scended almost to the surface of the water (Fig. 4.) The 

 time occupied by the descent was about two seconds. 



N. B. — All the changes thus far mentioned, were in- 

 stantaneous, except the descent, which was gradual. 



As the spout descended, the agitation of the water increas- 

 ed, boiling up on each side above the end of the spout, but 

 not coming in contact with it. The spout was slightly curved, 

 the convexity of the curve being towards the point whence 

 the wind came. It appeared to be hollow, light in the mid- 

 dle, and black, like the cloud at its sides. A waving, ascending 

 motion was distinctly seen in the middle, more distinctly 

 near the water than near the cloud. This the sailors with 

 one accord pronounced to be water, going up the spout ! 



This appearance lasted fifteen minutes or more, the spout 

 remaining entire and unchanged. Then it began to fade, 

 and suddenly a section from the lower end disappeared, 

 leaving the same scirrhous jagged extremity before men- 

 tioned. One section after another disappeared in this way, 

 the spout continuing to grow paler, the waving motion grow- 

 ing more distinct and slow, and the agitation of the water 

 subsiding till the whole disappeared. 



By this time the wind had freshened considerably and the 

 cloud had spread over a great part of the heavens. 



In a few minutes after, another cone appeared, exactly 

 like the first in all respects, and the same appearance was 

 exhibited in the water under it. This remained a short time 

 and then disappeared. 



From the appearance of the first cone, till the disappear- 

 ance of the last, was three fourths of an hour. 



The wind continued to increase, and the cloud to gather 

 blackness and spread in every direction, till it enveloped the 

 whole heavens. Next came a most vivid flash of lightning, 

 with a most tremendous peal of thunder. It seemed as if 

 heaven and earth had exploded at once — and in an instant 

 all was calm — the sails hung loose — not a breath of wind 

 could be felt. Hain now began to fall not in drops, but in 

 torrents, and the wind came in gusts from every point of the 

 compass. 



