162 



SINGULAR HABITATIONS. 



with water when the river overflows ; and 

 then they call it a flood, — and a flood is an 

 inundation." 



Thank you, my learned little lady/' said 

 I : — but her gravity was now nearly upset, and 

 it was long before she could resume the thread 

 of her discourse. 



So, these palm-trees being very high, their 

 tops are never overflowed. And so it is, that 

 these palm-trees, with their great bushy tops, 

 look very droll, standing above the water. 

 But that is not the most wonderful thing ; for, 

 when it grows dark, you may see these tree- 

 tops blazing with fires ! " 



Really !" said Mr. Longhurst ; what I 

 have related comes to nothing, when compared 

 with this. — Pray, madam, how, or by whom, 

 are those fires kindled?" 



^ By a people. Sir," she replied, called — 



