82 MODERN FOREST ECONOMY. 



bined, and disastrous consequences not unfrequently foUow. 

 And thus, as has been stated, was the late flood produced. 

 Persistent rains from the north-west fell upon the Cevennes 

 and the northern slope of the Pyrenees. This was pre- 

 ceded there in some cases by a heavy fall of snow ; and 

 there was over all the higher-lying lands the snow which 

 had fallen in the course of the winter. This snow was 

 dissolved ; all the tributaries of the Garonne were flooded 

 simultaneously ; and we see the result. 



In such a case time is everything. It may make all the 

 difference between the loss of life and property, and perfect 

 safety to both, if a body of water, such as was here precipi- 

 tated from the mountains, shall rush past a given point in 

 four days or take fourteen for its flow flowing in flood, but 

 never rising above the height of the containing banks. 

 And it may make a very great difference, though not so 

 great, if a flood and inundation come suddenly in the 

 night, without notice or warning, and if it come after 

 twelve or twenty-four hours' notice of its coming. 



Thus is it with floods in the Seine and in the Loire. 

 Warning is given by telegraph all along the course of 

 these rivers that a flood is on its way, and the inhabitants 

 on their banks are prepared when it comes ; and thus, as 

 has been stated, the inhabitants of Orihuela, in Spain, 

 were enabled to betake themselves to a place of safety 

 before the flood of the Sangonera reached their town. 



But this could not be done in the case of this inun- 

 dation. There is an observatory at Pic-du-Midi, a spur 

 of the Pyrenees, and it seems that General de Nansouty, 

 who commands there, would have been able to give timely 

 warning of the coming inundation had the observatory been 

 in telegraphic communication with the threatened towns 

 and villages, at all events along the course of the Adour. 

 He did, as we have seen, warn the people in the valley of 

 Campan of what was to be expected from a heavy fall of 

 snow in the mountains, which snow had suddenly com- 

 menced to melt under the influence of the rain and 

 westerly wind : on the first appearance of danger, on 



