When a hollow circular cylinder with its axis horizontal is partially filled with water and rotated rapidly about its axis, an almost rigid-body motion results with an interior free surface. The emotion is analysed assuming small perturbations to a rigid rotation, and a criterion is found for the stability of the motion. This is confirmed experimentally under varying conditions of water depth and angular velocity of the cylinder. The modes of oscillation (centrifugal waves) of the free surface are examined and a frequency equation deduced. Two particular modes are considered in detail, and satisfactory agreement is found with the frequencies observed.