It Is Impossible, While Perambulating The Fort Of Bombay, To Avoid
A Feeling Of Apprehension Concerning A Catastrophe, Which Sooner Or
Later Seems Certain To Happen, And Which Nothing Short Of A Miracle
Appears To Prevent From Taking Place Every Night; I Mean The
Destruction Of The Whole By Fire.
All the houses are constructed of
the most combustible materials, and the greater number belonging to
the native quarter are thatched.
Though contrary to law, many of the
warehouses contain gunpowder, while the immense quantity of oil
and spirits stored up in them would render a conflagration, once
commenced, most fearful. Few or no precautions seem to be taken by the
natives against fire. There are lights burning in every room of every
house, fires are continually made outside, whence a single spark
might set the whole in flames; and added to these dangers, are the
prejudices of the great number of the inhabitants, whose religious
feelings would prevent them from making the slightest endeavour to
stay the progress of the element which they worship. Nor would the
destruction of property be the sole danger. It is terrible to think
of the fearful risk of life in a place in which escape would be so
difficult. The gates of the Fort are few in number, and of narrow
dimensions; a new one is now constructing, probably with some view
to an emergence of the kind. The natives, upon the occasion of its
proposal, evinced their readiness to assist in the execution of a plan
so advantageous to the place of their abode, and immediately advanced
half the sum which this necessary improvement would cost - namely,
thirty thousand rupees - which were subscribed and paid into the
treasury in the course of a week.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 214 of 293
Words from 59035 to 59326
of 80716
