242 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
vency of its rays. The door of the bungalow was 
open, to admit the breeze that undulated through 
the apartment in which I was lying with grateful 
and refreshing coolness. In a moment, without the 
slightest warning, a column of air rolled through the 
door with a hiss and turbulence that startled me, 
I could distinguish the eddying whirlwind. In a few 
seconds it escaped through the Venetian opposite to 
the window, which it tore from the frame in an in- 
stant. As the same time the roof was carried away 
so clearly, that there was not a single beam left, and 
borne to a distance of at least three hundred yards. I 
should think the whole mischief was done in less than 
six seconds. My bed, which stood at the extremity 
of the room, was not touched ; — even the curtains were 
not ruffled, nor did I feel the wind, though so near 
me, which left behind such terrible proofs of its potency. 
We now crossed the river, and proceeded through 
Rohilcund to Hurd war, whence we resolved, after stay- 
ing as long as might be agreeable or convenient, to 
return to Calcutta. We arrived at Hurd war, the most 
sacred town on the banks of the Ganges, just eighteen 
days after we had quitted Delhi. 
Hurdwar, or Haridwar, the latter being the proper 
orthography, signifies the gate of Hari-— that is, the 
gate of God ; the word Hari being alike applied to 
each of the three persons in the Hindoo triad. Hurd- 
war is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage 
in Hindostan, and, though a small mean town, is 
principally remarkable for an annual mart, to which 
an immense number of people resort from all the 
neighbouring countries, so that at the particular period 
