216 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XIII. 
iu the ruins. At daylight the rooms presented a dismal 
appearance ; all the floors, chairs, and tables were covered 
with dust and pieces of broken tiles and mortar which 
had been shaken out of the roof As the storm still 
raged with unabated fury, Mr. Mackenzie and myself, 
glad to escape from the wreck by which we were sur- 
rounded, went out to see what effect the gale was 
producing on the other places in the vicinity. The 
wind was so powerful, that it was next to impossible to 
keep our feet ; in fact, we were frequently blown off the 
path, and were obliged to scramble back to it again on 
our hands and knees. The river, which is generally 
beautiful and smooth, had now risen and completely 
overflowed its banks, having been forced back by the 
strength of the wind, and was as rough as the sea itself. 
The whole country was one vast sheet of troubled water, 
for the branches of the river, and the numerous canals 
by which it is intersected, had all overflowed their banks, 
and had spread in the low paddy-fields. Most of the 
small boats were safe, as they were either in sheltered 
creeks, or drawn up beyond the reach of the water, but 
many of the large wood-junks which frequent this port 
were not so fortunate. These had been moored ofi" the 
city, having, as usual, a large portion of their cargo 
lashed to their sides. In many instances, the combined 
force of the winds and waves snapped the lashings, 
strong as they were, and the spars of wood floated from 
their sides, and were either carried away by the force of 
the stream, or thrown on shore. Hundreds of the Chi- 
nese were now ready to seize the wood as it floated to 
land, and with a total disregard to the " rights of pro- 
