PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
149 
form from a dense stratum of cloud, to within thirty feet of the water CHAP, 
where it was hid, hy the foam of the sea being whirled upwards with a 
tremendous giration. It changed its direction aaer it was first seen, and J™. 
threatened to pass over the ship; but being diverted from its course 
by a heavy gust of wind, it gradually receded. On the dispersion of 
this magnificent phenomenon, we observed the column to diminish 
gradually, and at length to retire to the cloud, from whence it had 
descended, in an undulating form. 
Various causes have been assigned for these formations, which 
appear to be intimately connected with electricity. On the present 
occasion a ball of fire was observed to be precipitated into the sea, 
and one of the boats, which was away from the ship, was so sur- 
I'ounded by lightning, that Lieutenant Belcher thought it advisable to 
get rid of the anchor, by hanging it some fathoms under water, and to 
cover the seamen’s muskets. From the accounts of this officer and 
^Ir. Smyth, who were at a distance from the ship, the column of the 
'^ater-spout first descended in a spiral form, until it met the ascending 
column a short distance from the sea* ; a second and a third were 
afterwards formedf, which subsequently united into one large co- 
ftimn:|;, and this again separated into three small spirals, and then dis- 
persed. It is not impossible that the highly rarefied air confined by 
the woods encircling the lagoon islands may contribute to the formation 
of these phenomena. 
A canoe near the ship very wisely hastened on shore at the ap- 
proach of the bad weather, for had it been drawn within the vortex ot 
tfte whirlwind it must have perished. We had the greatest apprehen- 
sion for our boats, which were absent during the storm, but fortunately 
fftey suffered no injury. 
Neither the barometer nor sympeisometer was sensibly affected by 
fftis partial disturbance of the atmosphere ; but the temperature under- 
went a change of eight degrees, falling from 82° to 74°; at midnight it 
^ose to 78° On the day succeeding this occurrence, several water- 
spouts were seen in the distance, the weather being sciually and gloomy. 
t (B). t (C). 
* See plate (A). 
