Account of a Hurricane in North America. 279 



mercial speculations. I had forded Highland Creek, and was 

 on the eve of entering a tract of bottom-land or valley that lay 

 between it and Canoe Creek, when, on a sudden, I remarked a 

 great difference in the aspect of the heavens. A hazy thickness 

 had overspread the country, and I for some time expected an 

 earthquake, but my horse exhibited no propensity to stop, and 

 prepare for such an occurrence. I had nearly arrived at the 

 verge of the valley when I. thought fit to stop near a brook, and 

 dismounted to quench the thirst which had come upon me. 



I was leaning on my knees with my lips about to touch the 

 water, when, from my proximity to the earth, I heard a distant 

 murmuring sound of an extraordinary nature. I drank, how- 

 evel*, and as I rose on my feet, looked towards the south-west, 

 where I observed a yellowish oval spot, the appearance of which 

 was quite new to me. Little time was left me for consideration, 

 as the next moment a smart breeze began to agitate the taller 

 trees. It increased to an unexpected height, and already the 

 smaller branches and twigs were seen falling in a slanting direc- 

 tion towards the ground. Two minutes had scarcely elapsed, 

 when the whole forest before me was in fearful motion. Here and 

 there were one tree pressed against another, a creaking noise was 

 produced similar to that occasioned by the violent gusts which 

 sometimes sweep over the country. Turning instinctively to- 

 ward the direction from which the wind blew, I saw, to my 

 great astonishment, that the noblest trees of the forest bent their 

 lofty heads for a while, and, unable to stand against the blast, 

 were falling into pieces. First the branches were broken off 

 with a crackling noise, then went the upper parts of the massy 

 trunks, and, in many places, whole trees of gigantic size were 

 falling entire to the ground. So rapid was the progress of the 

 storm, that, before I could think of taking measures to insure 

 my safety, the hurricane was passing opposite the place where I 

 stood. Never can I forget the scene which at that moment pre- 

 sented itself. The tops of the trees were seen moving in the 

 strangest manner, in the central current of the tempest, which 

 carried along with it a mingled mass of twigs and foliage that 

 completely obscured the view. Some of the largest trees were 

 seen bending and writhing under the gale ; others suddenly 

 snapped across; and many, after a momentary resistance, fell 



