The office of the firm with which I was associated was then known as 7, New China Bazar Street, now Royal Exchange Place, and my room, which had several windows, was on the north side on the first floor.  The wind kept constantly veering round from all points of the compass, and at one period of the day blew with terrific violence from the north—­right at the back of where I was seated.  I got up from time to time and closely inspected the fastenings of the windows, which, for a long while, seemed to be all right, but later on I noticed ominous signs that some of the crossbars were weakening.  It then became a question as to whether and for how long they could continue to withstand the terrible strain to which they were being subjected, and, forthwith, I and my co-assistants proceeded to wedge stools and bars against them, which most providentially had the desired effect.  Had they given way, the place would have been clean swept from end to end and completely wrecked.  In the course of the morning my Burra Sahib, who was married, and had left his wife all alone in their house, 3, London Street, was, of course, greatly perturbed and anxious as to her safety, and at about 11 o’clock he made up his mind to try and get back home again, and ordered out his buggy.  I must confess I felt horribly nervous at the time, as he was a tall heavily built man, and it was just a toss-up as to whether he could get through or not.  He might very easily have been capsized and the consequences would probably have proved disastrous.  Fortunately, however, nothing happened and he reached home in safety.

The cyclone commenced before midnight the previous evening and increased in intensity as daylight approached and the day advanced.  It was pretty bad when I left the house at about 9 o’clock for office, still I managed to struggle through.  But it was an entirely different proposition with which I was confronted on my return journey in the evening.

[Illustration:  Photo. by B. & S. A Street in Burra Bazaar.] [Illustration:  Photo. by Bourne & Shepherd Chitpure Road]

I was then living in a chummery in Circular Road, Ballygunge, and the entrance from Lower Circular Road, Calcutta, was so blocked up with fallen trees and other debris that I found it impossible to make headway against it in my gharry, so I sent it back to the office and walked to the house, or rather scrambled over trees and other obstacles the best way I could.

I can never forget the terrible scene of heartbreaking desolation and destruction that I encountered in every direction on going down to office next morning.  It seemed at first sight as if the town had suffered from the effects of a bombardment.  As I slowly wended my way along the various streets and across the maidan, I was confronted on all sides with striking evidence of the frightful ruin that had overtaken the city.  On every hand were to be seen great stately trees, that had safely weathered innumerable