Scientific InteUigence.^^Hydrography. 183 



largest of them is allowed to be the grandest yet discovered, 

 Niagara not excepted. You may hear the noise of the fall at 

 the distance of many miles ; but the sight which is presented to 

 you on your nearer approach is grander than I can possibly find 

 words to express. The water dashes over a perpendicular rock 

 173 feet high, in one unbroken stream ; and the vapour which 

 rises from the bottom appears like an immense cloud of white 

 smoke, and will wet one to the skin 500 yards off. The second 

 fall is not quite so grand in respect to height, but I think more 

 beautiful in appearaHce. In the very middle of it stands a rock, 

 in the shape of a tall pillar, and so slight that you would expect 

 to see it washed over by the stream which continually dashes 

 around it. The top of it may be about seven or eight feet in 

 diameter ; and on that pinnacle lives an old Fakeer, who has not 

 been off it for the last thirty years. He is supplied with food 

 by some of the neighbouring villagers, who regard him as con- 

 stantly employed in contemplation of the deity. At Myhur we 

 halted a day, which I spent in visiting the town, £md some adja- 

 cent ruins, which are well worthy of note. About a quarter of 

 a mile to the south-west of the town, there is a very curious hill, 

 in the shape of a cone, very steep on all sides, and on the top of 

 it is erected a small Hindoo temple, to which you ascend by 

 a stair built in a straight line up one side of the hill, which 

 is nearly perpendicular. It consists of 523 steps, each about 

 14 inches high. On going up I had to rest very frequently ; 

 and, on looking down, I sometimes felt myself so giddy, that 

 had I not been supported by the bushes at each side, I dare say 

 I should have rolled down to the bottom. This place was built 

 long ago by one of the Myhur's Rajahs, and has always been 

 looked upon by the Hindoos as a most holy spot. From thence 

 to Jubbulpoor the country is almost all jungle, and the roads 

 very bad ; and we were all highly pleased when we arrived at 

 the end of our journey. — Letter from an Officer of the 5tk Ex- 

 tra Regiment of Native Infantry^ to his Father. 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 



5. Distances at which Sornids are heard. — I recollect of be- 

 ing, many years ago, at the west end of Dunfermline, and hear- 

 ing part of a sermon then dehvering at a tent at Cairneyhill. I 



