THE DESTKUCTIOX OF SZEGEDIX. 11 



were afloat, and we were prepared to start. It was a 

 curious sight : our train, consisting of an engine with 

 half-a-dozen trucks, had been run out on the already 

 submerged strip of earth, and stood reflected in the 

 water ; the long line of telegraph-poles marking the 

 track of railway towards Szegedin becoming less and 

 less distinct. As the crow flies the town stood some 

 six miles off ; but it resembled a mirage rising from the 

 lake, rather than the solid reality that it then was. 

 Before we finally got off, a good breeze arose, and our 

 boats, moored to the embankment, were bumped about 

 pretty freely by the waves. Having manned seven 

 of the boats with two men each, we thought first 

 of proceeding direct to Szegedin, but after a short 

 consultation we determined to visit several of the 

 inundated villages to see if we could afford any assist- 

 ance. Accordingly we rowed off in procession towards 

 a small village which we noticed to our left, just 

 visible above the waste of waters. On approaching 

 we found it was entirely at the mercy of wind and 

 waves ; the ruined houses were breaking up visibly 

 before us, the rough wind helping the destruction. 

 The surface of the flood was covered with remains of 

 roofs, floors, and rafters. We rowed round about with 

 necessary caution, and at last with some difficulty 

 managed to enter what must have been the principal 

 street of the village. We passed by this water-way 

 between two lines of ruin. Here and there were por- 

 tions of buildings which had withstood the flood more 



