480 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
them. Some were well defined, extending in an 
unbroken line from the sea to the sky, like pillars 
resting on the ocean as their basis, and supporting 
the black and overhanging clouds; others assuming the 
shape of a funnel or inverted cone, attached to the 
clouds, and extending towards the waters beneath. 
From the distinctness with which we saw them, not¬ 
withstanding the density of the atmosphere, the farthest 
could not have been many miles distant. In some, we 
imagined we could trace the spiral motion of the water 
as it was drawn to the clouds, which were every moment 
augmenting their portentous darkness. The sense, 
however, of personal danger, and perhaps almost 
immediate destruction, if brought within the vortex 
of their influence, restrained in a great degree all 
curious, and what, in other circumstances, would have 
been interesting observation, on the wonderful pheno¬ 
mena around us, the mighty agitation of the elements, 
and the terrific sublimity of these wonders of the 
deep. 
The hoarse roaring of the tempest, and the hollow 
sounds that murmured on the ear, as the heavy billow 
rolled in foam, or broke in contact with opposing 
billows, seemed as if deep called unto deep ; and the 
noise of waterspouts might almost be heard, while we 
were momentarily expecting that the mighty waves 
would sweep over us. 
I had once before, when seized with the cramp 
while bathing at a distance from my companions, been, 
as I supposed, on the verge of eternity. The danger then 
came upon me suddenly, and my thoughts, while in 
peril, were but few. The danger now appeared more 
imminent, and a watery grave every moment more 
