A Flood in Rome. 239 



many happy days. When we first lived in Via 

 Condotti, the waste-pipes to carry off the rain-water 

 from the roofs projected far into the street, and when 

 there was a violent thunderstorm, one might have 

 thought a waterspout had broken over Eome, the 

 water poured in such cascades from the houses on 

 each side of the street. On one occasion the rain 

 continued in torrents for thirty-six hours, and the 

 Tiber came down in heavy flood, inundating the 

 Ghetto and all the low parts of the city ; the water 

 was six feet deep in the Pantheon. The people 

 were driven out of their houses in the middle of 

 the night and took refuge in the churches, and 

 boats plied in the streets supplying the inhabitants 

 with food, which they hauled up in baskets let down 

 from the windows. The Campagna for miles was 

 under water ; it covered the Ponte Molle so that 

 the courier could not pass ; and seen from the 

 Pincio it looked like an extensive lake. Much 

 anxiety was felt for the people who lived in the 

 farm houses now surrounded with water. Boats 

 were sent to rescue them, and few lives were lost ; 

 but many animals perished. The flood did not 

 subside till after three days, when it left every- 

 thing covered with yellow mud ; the loss of pro- 

 perty was very great, and there was much misery 

 for a long time. 



