THE EARTHQUAKE. 241 



to impossible to discriminate any of the party, all huddled together in a 

 state of almost perfect nudity. The earth waved like a field of corn be- 

 fore the breeze : the birds left their perches, and flew about not knowing 

 whither ; and the Doctor, recollecting the danger of his gallipots, ran to 

 his shop-room, to prevent their dancing off the shelves to the floor. 

 Never for a moment did he think of closing the doors, but, spreading 

 his arms, jumped about the front of the cases, pushing back here and 

 there the falling jars ; with so little success, however, that before the 

 shock was over, he had lost nearly all he possessed. 



The shock at length ceased, and the frightened females, now sensible 

 of their dishabille, fled to their several apartments. The earthquakes 

 produced more serious consequences in other places. Near New Madrid, 

 and for some distance on the Mississippi, the earth was rent asunder in 

 several places, one or two islands sunk for ever, and the inhabitants fled 

 in dismay towards the eastern shores. 



