TOTAL DESTRUCTION. 43 



and burst high into the air. This appearance was 

 soon followed by a loud roar, and it became evident 

 that the object was an enormous wave. When it 

 approached the outer reef, its awful magnitude be- 

 came more evident. It burst completely over the 

 reef at all points, with a deep, continuous roar; yet, 

 although part of its force was thus broken, on it 

 came, as if with renewed might, and finally fell upon 

 the beach with a crash that seemed to shake the 

 solid earth ; then, rushing impetuously up into the 

 woods, it levelled the smaller trees and bushes in its 

 headlong course; and, on retiring, left a scene of 

 wreck and desolation that is quite indescribable. 



" Storm- waves/' as those unusually 'gigantic bil- 

 lows are called, are said to be the result of the re- 

 moval of atmospheric pressure in certain parts of 

 the ocean over which a storm is raging. This re- 

 moval of pressure allows the portion thus relieved to 

 be forced up high above the ordinary sea-level by 

 those other parts that are not so relieved. 



The devastating effects of these storm-waves is 

 still further illustrated by the total destruction of 

 Coringa, on the Coromandel Coast, in 1789. Dur- 

 ing a hurricane, in December of that year, at the 

 moment when a high tide was at its highest point, 

 and the north-west wind was blowing with fury, ac- 

 cumulating the waters at the head of the bay, three 

 monstrous waves came rolling in from the sea upon 

 the devoted town, following each other at a short dis- 

 tance. The horror-stricken inhabitants had scarcely 



