PRECIPITOUS ROCKS. . 339 



Early in the following morning we pushed 

 out into the beginning of the rapids, when the 

 boat was twirled about in whirlpools against 

 the oars; and but for the amazing strength of 

 M c Kay, who steered, it must inevitably have 

 been crushed against the faces of the protruding 

 rocks. As we entered the defile, the rocks on 

 the right presented a high and perpendicular 

 front, so slaty and regular that it needed no 

 force of imagination to suppose them severed at 

 one great blow from the opposite range ; which, 

 craggy, broken, and overhanging, towered in 

 stratified and many-coloured masses far above 

 the chafing torrent. There was a deep and 

 settled gloom in the abyss — the effect of which 

 was heightened by the hollow roar of the rapid, 

 still in deep shade, and by the screaming of 

 three large hawks, which frightened from their 

 aerie were hovering high above the middle of 

 the pass, and gazing fixedly upon the first in- 

 truders on their solitude ; so that I felt relieved 

 as it were from a load when we once more burst 

 forth into the bright sunshine of day. The boat 

 was then allowed to drive with the current, the 

 velocity of which was not less than six miles 

 an hour, among whirlpools and eddies, which 

 strangely buffeted her about. The men, glad to 

 rest from their oars, were either carelessly look- 

 ing at the objects which they passed, or whiffing 



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