Page:The works of John Ruskin (IA worksofjohnruski01rusk).pdf/310

212 on the village to the west of these gullies, and the soil accumulated on the side of the hill gave way in a wedge shaped mass, the highest point being about 600 feet above the houses, and slid down, leaving the rocks perfectly bare. It buried the nearest group of cottages, and remained heaped up in longitudinal layers above them, whilst the water ran in torrents over the edge towards the plain, sweeping away many more houses in its course. To the westward of this point another slip took place of smaller dimensions than the first, but coming on a more crowded part of the village, overwhelmed it completely, occasioning the loss of 116 lives."