THE DESTRUCTION OF SZEGEDIX. 29 



that the timbers of the arched roof broke away out- 

 wards, striking whatever chanced to be near with 

 great force. Our boat's crew had several very nar- 

 row escapes, in fact the volunteers did not get off 

 altogether unscathed. 



As night came on, the whole scene was lit up by 

 a great fire raging at the match -manufactory. The 

 effect was truly awful. By the light of the flames 

 we visited the embankment. There must have been 

 upwards of 40,000 people collected there, in a state 

 of the greatest misery in short, without food, and 

 without covering save their own garments. In some 

 places fires had been lighted with wood snatched from 

 the floating debris, and shivering groups of poor 

 creatures were gathered round. Such a scene of 

 desolation, taken all in all, has perhaps never been 

 equalled. The distress was greatly aggravated by the 

 pitiless snow and sleet which swept over the homeless 

 sufferers. During the night ten degrees of frost were 

 registered a most unusual thing at this season. I 

 have before alluded to the strong attachment of the 

 Hungarian peasant for home and familiar surround- 

 ings. It is a curious fact that, weeks after the inun- 

 dation of Szegedin, the people could not be persuaded 

 to leave their miserable bivouac on the river em- 

 bankment. It was the spot of dry earth nearest to 

 their drowned homes ; and there, poor creatures, they 

 stopped, patiently waiting the assuaging of the 

 waters. In some instances the people preferred to 



