Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/334

  voyage, in 1707. The natives of these islands, all of which are situated in a lagoon formed by a reef of coral, soon evinced an insatiable desire to appropriate to themselves the property of others, and three or four of them appear to have been wounded by the Blossom’s people, in various scuffles.

The east peak of Mount Duff is situated in lat. 23° 7' 58" S., and long. 134° 55' 31" W.; the variation 7° 15' E.

Commander Beechey next proceeded to Lord Hood’s island, and from thence to Clermont Tonnere, off which he had a narrow escape from a waterspout of more than ordinary size.

“It approached amidst heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, and was not seen until very near to the ship. As soon as she was within its influence, a gust of wind obliged him to take in every sail, and the topsails, which could not be furled in time, were in danger of splitting. The wind blew with great violence, momentarily changing its direction, as if it were sweeping round in short spirals; the rain, which fell in torrents, was also precipitated in curves with short intervals of cessation. Amidst this thick shower the water spout was discovered, extending in a tapering form from a dense stratum of cloud to within thirty feet of the water, where it was hid, by the foam of the sea being whirled upwards with a tremendous giration. It changed its direction after it was first seen, and threatened to pass over the ship; but being directed from its course by a heavy