POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
479 
situation; and, as a last resort, took down our little 
sail and our mast, tied the masts, bowsprit, and oars 
together in a bundle, with one end of a strong rope, 
and, fastening the other end to the bow of our boat, 
threw them into the sea. The bundle of masts, oars, 
&c., acted as a kind of buoy, or floating anchor; and 
not only broke the force of the billows that were rolling 
towards the boat, but kept it tolerably steady, while 
we were dashed on the broken wave, or wafted we 
knew not whither by the raging tempest and the pelting 
storm. 
The rain soon abated, and the northern horizon 
became somewhat clear, but the joyful anticipation 
with which we viewed this change was soon superseded 
by a new train of feelings. Huri, huri^ tia moana^ 
exclaimed one of the natives; and, looking in the 
direction to which he pointed, we saw a large 
cylindrical waterspout, extending, like a massive column, 
from the ocean to the dark and impending clouds. It 
was evidently at no very remote distance, and seemed 
moving towards our apparently devoted boat. 
The roughness of the sea forbade our attempting to 
hoist a sail in order to avoid it; and as we had no other 
means of safety at command, we endeavoured calmly to 
wait its approach. The natives abandoned themselves to 
despair, and either threw themselves along in the bottom 
of the boat, or sat crouching on the keel, with their faces 
downwards, and their eyes covered with their hands. 
The sailor kept at the helm, Mr. Barff sat on one 
side of the stern, and I on the other, watching the 
alarming object before us ! While thus employed, we 
saw two other waterspouts, and subsequently a third, 
if not more, so that we seemed almost surrounded with 
