Soon, bowever, the alarm was given, and down ran the citizens
from the upper part of the town, mingling their shouts and exclamations
of astonishment with the cries of those who wrestied with the perils of
the merciless waters. Help waa speedily and willingly lent ; and after
the fortunate rescue of the sufferers, an attempt was made to save the
different property. By twelve o^clock, the flood had attained its greatest
heisfht, being 10 feet above the ordinary level of the river. The streets
ap^ life canids, ,rith boato ^g from hon«e to honee. , Lord
Fife^s park and garden formed one immense lake, studded with islands
and clumps of trees ; and the beautiM bridge across the Deveron,
though nearly engulfed, still stood the mighty force of this otherwise
overpowering deluge ; while the boats were scaling across the flat from
Macduff to l£e Low Street. In the park, a number of cattie had con-
gregated on a knoll in the midst of the waste of waters. A boat was
launched, and on readiing the isolated spot, ^e first creature that
sought safety in it was a poor hare, which had survived hundreds of its
tribe. A number of rats were also collected on the knoll, but fought



73

shy at a passage to terra firma. The people and the cftttld were for-
tnnately all saved. In Dnff Honse, I stood by the Factor, watching
the moving of the waters, and saw it rush into the kitchen and low
rooms to the height of four feet, so that some of the fhmiture had to be
carried upstairs ; and a tame eagle, in its house outside, was carried
away and drowned.
