Storia do Mogor 281.17.7

281.17.7

Take the case of waters which flow from a mountain by various channels, some larger, some smaller, into a valley. There they meet with an embankment in such a manner that they are held back and rise in level. Not being either abundant or impetuous enough, they are unable to overcome the strength of the embankment. But when a storm supervenes and heavy rain falls, the strength of these streams is increased, and uniting, they force a way at some point or another. They overturn the embankment, root out its very foundations, and pile up one upon the other everything that opposes itself to the rage and impetuosity of their course. They spread themselves over the adjacent plains already sown or about to become so, and in one moment the labourer loses the hope of reaping from the one and of sowing the other. In short, the floods ruin him ; he loses the fruits of his exertions in the past, the present, and the season to come.