60 TlMEHRI. 
shrieks of the children and the roaring of the elements, 
the whole of the outer and part of the inner room where 
we were, fell, and in falling one part was driven round 
against the chamber on the left wing, which it threw on 
one side forming a fearful opening in one angle where 
it rent asunder ; and the other part, consisting of the 
bow window of the dining rooms and about 5 feet of the 
building — beams, floor, and all were fairly lifted into the 
air, and hurled over the hill, leaving in the cellars 
beneath nothing but the bare walls. We then no longer 
deemed ourselves secure even in the back rooms ; and 
began to retreat hastily through one of the chamber 
windows, and over heaps of ruins, to a small pantry 
which had been recently ere6ted, but was without win- 
dows or doors. Here we remained, the rain beating 
upon us, till we were completely drenched, deterred 
from seeking security in a cave about 50 yards distant, 
by the intelligence that the cliff had shot down and 
closed the entrance. When however I ascertained from 
my own personal inspection, that it had been only par- 
tially closed, by the falling of an immense tree, with a 
mass of earth and stones attached to the roots, I seized 
my wife's hand, and followed by all the family (a wretched 
band of miserable outcasts !) we, after much difficulty in 
clambering over broken beams, through thatch, sticks, 
shingles and stones, at length reached it in security, 
dripping wet, cold, faint and dispirited. We had not 
tasted anything since the preceding evening, and it was 
now impossible to think of procuring anything — for the 
hurricane was at its height- — and with mingled feelings 
of horror and pity, I observed building after building of 
the most massive materials hurled down ; coppered roofs, 
