chap, xv MOUNT LUSITAMA 215 



of hyperite. On to this I mounted, and the whole trough 

 was open before me, long and straight, leading to a low 

 green pass, beyond which was the valley, which opens into 

 Advent Vale at the old moraines. On my left was the dull 

 range forming also the left side of Flower Valley. On my 

 right were a new set of hills. The valley was wide, fertile 

 (for this region), and flat. The ponies might have returned 

 by this route to Advent Vale, and been saved a long detour. 

 One cannot, however, foresee everything in an unsurveyed 

 country. I advanced some distance up the valley without 

 gaining more information. 



Returning, I was attracted by a faint cloud rising over 

 the river, where it flows through the hyperite. This de- 

 manded and rewarded investigation, for it was caused by a 

 striking waterfall. The hyperite gorge has vertical sides, 

 whose effect of height -is increased by the roughly columnar 

 structure of the rock. Half-way along the gorge the river 

 plunges over a wall about fifty feet high, itself transverse 

 to two longitudinal walls of double the height, enclosing 

 both the cascade and the pool into which it plunges. In 

 the afternoon, when I was there, the whole was wrapped in 

 shadow, but the gloom magnified the aspect of the scene. 

 One or two rock columns stood out, almost detached from 

 the masses on either side, great monoliths finely erect. The 

 gorge, bending round behind, closed in the view. Though 

 the fall and its surroundings are not on a large scale, the 

 proportions are excellent, designed on noble lines, and more 

 impressive in total effect than many a greater assemblage 

 of rocks and falling water. 



The light was bad for photography, but I could not 

 wait the needful five hours for an improvement. My steps 

 turned homeward, or rather dinnerward. The tide was 

 out now, so the narrow beach could be followed, an agreeable 

 change from the everlasting up and down of gully-crossing 



