48 MEMOIR OF 



measured more than ten feet. This, it is believed, 

 is the most eastern spot in this part of South Ame- 

 rica in which these sculptured rocks have been seen. 



Some miles higher up, they encountered a great 

 obstacle to their further advancement, in a series of 

 formidable cataracts. The Corentyn was now broken 

 up into torrents, and it was found necessary to recon- 

 noitre. The canoe was hauled over a bed of rocks, 

 and the travellers crossed a rapid in an oblique direc- 

 tion, and soon stood before a pile of rocks which, 

 when the river is full, are the bed of a cataract ; at 

 present only a small stream rippled over their black- 

 ened surface. They had hoped at first that this 

 place would have afforded a possibiHty of drawing 

 the corials over, but their hopes fell with every step 

 that they advanced ; enormous rocks heaped toge- 

 ther, opposed even their further progress on foot ; 

 at times immense chasms yawned beneath, and at 

 others they had to wade through a stream which 

 pushed its winding way through rocks, and disap- 

 peared as if by magic, until the subterraneous noise 

 told them it was rolling below their feet, and made 

 its re-appearance where it was least to be expected, 

 leaving them to wonder whence it came. Many of 

 the rocks were clothed with plants; and on the 

 right was heard the thundering noise of a cataract, 

 over which a dense mist hovered. Thousands of 

 swallows were skimming through this cloud, rising 

 and falling as if delighted with the constant mois- 

 ture from the spray. 



Our adventurous travellers visited the cataract 



