278 Dr Buchanan's Account of Water Spouts at Sea. 
ly as dense as the spout. No noise was perceptible. We were 
then in about Lat. 3° 38' N. and Long. 135° 26' E. from Green- 
wich. The weather was very unsettled, as is usual in such la- 
titudes. The Thermometer was at 82°. We had no thunder nor 
lightning that day. The sky was every where full of irregular 
clouds, with frequent showers. With regard to the distance of 
the water-spout, I conjectured that it was at least six miles off, 
as I thought that its base was beyond our visible horizon. As 
for the altitude of the cloud, I only conjecture that it was 30°, 
and I may readily be mistaken 5° or 6°. 
April 12. 1789, being in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, at half 
an hour past eight in the morning, I observed the base of a water 
spout Fig. 5. a. It was situated so near a squall of rain b y 
that, before the top had time to form, it was enveloped by the 
squall It bore SW. from the ship. Soon after, the officer 
on deck observed a spout in the same quarter descend from the 
cloudy half way to the water. At nine, coming on deck, the of- 
ficer informed me that a spout had formed in the same place, 
had then withdrawn for a minute or two, and had now again 
descended. Upon looking, I observed it at a coming down from a 
pretty high cloud d , as in Fig. 6., and reaching half way to the 
water. It was bent in a direction from E. to W. When I ex- 
amined it, the centre appeared much lighter coloured than the 
sides, owing most probably to its being cylindrical. Under its 
lower extremity the water was highly agitated as at b y and white, 
as the water under a cataract is. From the space so agitated, 
a thick spray or fog arose at c, but to a less height than I ever 
observed before. No noise could be perceived. After continu- 
ing two or three minutes, the spout having first become gra- 
dually lighter coloured, either withdrew into the cloud, or be- 
came so transparent as not to be observed ; but the water con- 
tinued to be agitated for at least a minute afterwards. The 
weather was exceedingly sultry. The sky in most places was 
overcast with thick clouds, which frequently descended in squalls 
of rain. There was no thunder nor lightning that day. The 
wind at the ship was from the NE., but was only in very light 
airs. The Thermometer was at 81°. The distance of the spout 
might be about three miles, as we saw the water beyond the base. 
