56 TlMEHRl. 
I posted, through torrents of rain accompanied by one of 
my drivers, and on reaching the spot I observed to my 
surprise, but to my great relief, that the roof had given 
way in the centre, and as it fell the mules had fled to 
one end, and the cattle to the other, where they were 
separately cooped up, unable to move but not having 
suffered any injury. The sides of bamboo I ordered 
to be removed so as to admit of their coming out into 
the pasture,- and a pen to be enclosed adjoining an 
empty megass house (where the canes after the juice is 
expressed are dried for fuel) that they might take shelter 
there, as it was composed of substantial brick-pillars, 
pitch-pine rafters, and a good roof ; fortunately however, 
before my orders could be carried into execution, that 
building, amongst the ruins of which they must have 
perished, was itself hurled down by the increasing 
violence of the gale. As I ascended the hill to look after 
the security of my own family and the house, which was 
a frail fabric built of wood, but in a more sheltered 
situation, another messenger overtook me to inform me 
that our magnificent wharf which was 290 feet in length 
and had cost £3,000, was in danger from the height 
at which the waves were running into the bay, and 
recommending that measures should be taken to secure 
the new iron crane placed at its extremity. I despatched 
two overseers and a company of negroes with directions 
to fasten the hawser to the crane, and to bring it on 
shore, and make it fast to a tree, that should the wharf 
give way we might ascertain where the crane fell and 
afterwards recover it. I stood at the window look- 
ing at this new peril, and to observe how my direc- 
tions were carried into effe6t. I saw with an anxious 
