Lessn XXXV.} EARTHftUAKES. 242 



able to stand, my companions and I caught hold 

 of whatever shrub grew next to us, and supported 

 ourselves in that manner." 



" After some time, this violent paroxysm ceas- 

 ing, we again stood up, in order to prosecute our 

 voyage to Euphasmia, which lay within sight. In. 

 the mean time, while we were preparing for this 

 purpose, I turned my eyes towards the city, but 

 could see only a frightful dark cloud, that seemed 

 to rest upon the place. This the more surprised 

 us, as the weather was so very serene. We waited, 

 therefore, till the cloud had passed away : then 

 turning to look for the city, it was totally sunk. 

 Wonderful to tsll ! nothing but a dismal and pu- 

 trid lake was seen where it stood. We looked 

 about to find some one that could tell us of its sad 

 catastrophe, but could see no person. All was be- 

 come a melancholy solitude; a scene of hideous 

 desolation. Thus proceeding pensively along, in 

 quest of some human being that could give us a 

 little information, we at length saw a boy sitting 

 by the shore, and appearing stupified with terror. 

 Of him, therefore, we inquired concerning the fate 

 of the city ; but he could not be prevailed on to 

 give us an answer. We entreated him, with every 

 expression of tenderness and pity, to tell us ; but 

 his senses were quite wrapt up in the contempla- 

 tion of the danger he had escaped. We offered 

 him some victuals; but he seemtd to loath the sight. 

 We still persisted in our offices of kindness ; but 

 he only pointed to the place of the city, like one 

 out of his senses, and then, running up into the 

 M 2 woods 



