DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9697#0257
THE EARTHQUAKE AT RAGUSA.
193
was a little over, he got out, and in this sad juncture of
affaires behaved himself so gallantly, as he was not oncly
pardon'd, but promoted, having been several times Am-
bassadore here before. The greatest part of the houses in
the Town were shaken down, which was done at one blow,
without any antecedaneous trembling or admonition ; but
after it follow'd a trembling, which ceased not perfectly in
4 yeares after. There were about 400 and odde noblemen
before this accident, but not above 140 escaped ; yet not
one family of them was quite extinct. He onely was left
of his. There are not above iS familyes antient amongst
them. From the harths that were in the houses over
thrown broke out all over the town a most dreadfull fire,
which continued 22 dayes ; yet, notwithstanding it, and
the other terrible shock of the Earthquake, nothing of
their walls or fortifications, or any publick buildings, were
harmed in the least, neither was one corn of powder fired,
though all their magazines were then full. There was a
poor woman servant after 15 dayes digg'd out alive; she
had lived in a kitchen all that while, with a little dish-
wash and oatmeal left there by chance. He saw like-
wise a little child digd out hanging at the mother's brest
(who was dead) three whole dayes after this sad hap; the
child is yet alive. He is a very short man, and behaved
himself bravely against the Venetians, who afterwards
assailed the town. They pay to the G. Signor a yearly
tribute of 12,500 Hungars at 2J- dollars apiece, with adazio
(as the merchants call it); it is often more, as now one is
valued at 2J doll. Besides this tribute they are forced to
make presents at severall times of great solemnityes, as
now the G. Signor sent to them to come and honour the
Circumcision of his son and marriage of his daughter.
They were much confounded, not having any precedent
left of what ever had been pay'd before ; but the Chid (or
steward or deputy) to the Vizier favour'd them with a
O
193
was a little over, he got out, and in this sad juncture of
affaires behaved himself so gallantly, as he was not oncly
pardon'd, but promoted, having been several times Am-
bassadore here before. The greatest part of the houses in
the Town were shaken down, which was done at one blow,
without any antecedaneous trembling or admonition ; but
after it follow'd a trembling, which ceased not perfectly in
4 yeares after. There were about 400 and odde noblemen
before this accident, but not above 140 escaped ; yet not
one family of them was quite extinct. He onely was left
of his. There are not above iS familyes antient amongst
them. From the harths that were in the houses over
thrown broke out all over the town a most dreadfull fire,
which continued 22 dayes ; yet, notwithstanding it, and
the other terrible shock of the Earthquake, nothing of
their walls or fortifications, or any publick buildings, were
harmed in the least, neither was one corn of powder fired,
though all their magazines were then full. There was a
poor woman servant after 15 dayes digg'd out alive; she
had lived in a kitchen all that while, with a little dish-
wash and oatmeal left there by chance. He saw like-
wise a little child digd out hanging at the mother's brest
(who was dead) three whole dayes after this sad hap; the
child is yet alive. He is a very short man, and behaved
himself bravely against the Venetians, who afterwards
assailed the town. They pay to the G. Signor a yearly
tribute of 12,500 Hungars at 2J- dollars apiece, with adazio
(as the merchants call it); it is often more, as now one is
valued at 2J doll. Besides this tribute they are forced to
make presents at severall times of great solemnityes, as
now the G. Signor sent to them to come and honour the
Circumcision of his son and marriage of his daughter.
They were much confounded, not having any precedent
left of what ever had been pay'd before ; but the Chid (or
steward or deputy) to the Vizier favour'd them with a
O