The aspect of
the Ungerengeri valley was completely changed - from a Paradise
it was converted into a howling waste.
We continued our march until we reached Ulagalla, and it was
evident, as we advanced, that an unusual storm had passed over
the land, for the trees in some places seemed to lie in swathes.
A most fatiguing and long march brought us to Mussoudi, on the
eastern bank of the Ungerengeri; but long before we reached it we
realized that a terrific destruction of human life and property
had occurred. The extent and nature of the calamity may be
imagined, when I state that nearly ONE HUNDRED VILLAGES, according
to Mussoudi's report, were swept away.
Mussoudi, the Diwan, says that the inhabitants had gone to rest
as usual - as they had done ever since he had settled in the valley,
twenty-five years ago - when, in the middle of the night, they heard
a roar like many thunders, which woke them up to the fact that
death was at work in the shape of an enormous volume of water,
that, like a wall, came down, tearing the tallest trees
with it, carrying away scores of villages at one fell, sure swoop
into utter destruction. The scene six days after the event - when
the river has subsided into its normal breadth and depth during
the monsoons - is simply awful. Wherever we look, we find something
very suggestive of the devastation that has visited the country;
fields of corn are covered with many feet of sand and debris; the
sandy bed the river has deserted is about a mile wide; and there
are but three villages standing of all that I noticed when en route
to Unyanyembe. When I asked Mussoudi where the people had gone to,
he replied, "God has taken most of them, but some have gone to
Udoe." The surest blow ever struck at the tribe of the Wakami
was indeed given by the hand of God; and, to use the words of
the Diwan, "God's power is wonderful, and who can resist Him!"
I again resort to my Diary, and extract the following:
April 30th. - Passing Msuwa, we travelled hurriedly through the
jungle which saw such hard work with us when going to Unyanyembe.
What dreadful odors and indescribable loathing this jungle
produces! It is so dense that a tiger could not crawl through
it; it is so impenetrable that an elephant could not force his
way! Were a bottleful of concentrated miasma, such as we inhale
herein, collected, what a deadly poison, instantaneous in its
action, undiscoverable in its properties, would it be!
