20 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



a wide expanse of water, no land visible except the 

 river dike on our left : this had been cut some way 

 further up to allow the flood waters which, as I 

 have before explained, were higher than the river 

 leA'el to escape into the river, and lessen the danger 

 that threatened Szegedin. This cutting, about a 

 hundred yards in length, produced so strong a current 

 of influx water, that we could hardly make way 

 against it. It must be evident that, had the river 

 level only been, say, a couple of feet lower, the relief 

 to the flooded district would have been immense. 

 Unfortunately, at its debouchure, the Theiss has a 

 sand-bar which retards its outflow into the Danube. 

 It is necessary to note this fact for further considera- 

 tion. Passing on our way, we came to the unfor- 

 tunate village of Tape, likewise on our left side. 

 This place had over two thousand inhabitants, and 

 was renowned for its flourishing industries. It had 

 been completely submerged. It was simply an 

 obliterated ruin ; nothing but the church Avas now 

 standing. The river embankment in front of the 

 village was high, and from sixty to eighty feet broad. 

 Here were collected a number of the inhabitants 

 several hundred souls ; and there were a good many 

 besides in some barges moored to the dike further 

 down. The poor creatures on the dike were encamped 

 with such of their household goods as they had been 

 able to save. The scene was piteous in the extreme. 

 Every inch of this perilous ridge was occupied ; some 



