HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 31 



the inhabitants began to think themfelves exempt from fuch 

 calamities, and accordingly had no edifices of fufficient ftrength 

 to withftand the force of a hurricane. 



ON the gth of October 1780, it began to blow hard at Bar- 

 badoes ; but it was not apprehended till next day that there 

 would be any thing more than fuch a gale as often happens at 

 that feafon. But, on the evening of the roth, the wind rofe to 

 a prodigious degree of violence. 



AT 8 o'clock it began to make impremon on the houfes, by 

 tearing off the roofs, and overthrowing fome of the walls. 

 The hurricane was thought to be at its greateft height at mid- 

 night, but did not abate confiderably till 8 o'clock next 

 morning. The ravage made during this night, on every 

 object of nature and art, was complete and dreadful. The 

 inhabitants, without diftinclion of age, fex, or condition, 

 ^ were driven from their houfes, for fear of being buried in the 

 ruins of them, and were obliged to pafs the night in the fields, 

 expofed to the impetuous wind, to the cold, which was very re- 

 markable, confidering the climate, to inceflant torrents of rain, 

 and to the terrors of thunder and lightning, which were violent 

 and almoft conftant. 



MULTITUDES perifhed, either by clinging too long to the 

 buildings for fhelter, in attempting to fave what was valuable, 

 or by unavoidable accidents from the falling of walls, roofs, 

 and furniture, the materials of which were projected to great 

 diftances. The number of lives loft was eftimated from returns 

 made to the Governor, at more than 3000 ; but feveral parifli- 

 es had given no returns. 



BY the violence of the wind, the bodies of men and cattle 

 were often lifted from the ground, and carried for feveral yards. 



ALL the fruits of the earth then (landing were deftroyed, 

 moft of the trees on the ifland were torn up by the roots, and 

 many of them were ftripped of their bark. 



ALL 



