2 28 OBSERVATIONS RELATIVE to the 



the adion of inch a tremendous column of water falling 

 froni fuch an eminence, through a long iucceffion of 

 ages, lias worn av/ay the folid (lone for the diftance of 

 leven miles, and formed an immenfe chafm which can- 

 not be approached without horror. In afcending the road 

 from the landing to Fort Slaufer the eye is continually 

 engaged in the contemplation of the awful, and romantic 

 fcenes which prefent themfelves, till the tranfcendent 

 magnificence of the falls is difplayed to view, the ima- 

 gination is then forcibly arrelled, and the fpedtator is loft 

 in fiient admiration ! down this awful chafm, the waters 

 are precipitated with amazing velocity after they make the 

 great pitch, and fuch a vaft torrent of falling water com- 

 municates a tremulous motion to the earth, Vi^hich is fen- 

 fibly felt for ibme poles round, and produces a found 

 which is frequently heard at the diftance of twenty miles. 

 Many wild beafts that attempt to crofs the rapids above 

 this great cataradt, are deftroyed ', and if geefe or ducks 

 inadvertently alight in thefe rapids, they are incapable 

 of rifmg upon the wing again, and are hurried on to 

 inevitable deftrudion. 



The great height of the banks renders the dcfcent into 

 the chafm extremely difficult ; but a perfon after having 

 defcended may eafily proceed to the bafe of the falls, and 

 a number of perfons may walk in perfedl fafety a confi- 

 derable diftance between the precipice and the defcending 

 torrent, where converfation is not much interrupted by 

 the noife, which is not fo great here as at fome dif- 

 tance. A vapour or fpray of confiderable denfity, re- 

 fembling a cloud, continually afcends, in which a rain- 

 bow is always feen when the fun fhines, and the pofition 

 of the fpedlator is favourable. In the winter this fpray 

 attaches itfelf to the trees where it is congealed in fuch 

 quantities as to divert them of their fmaller branches, 

 and produces a moft beautiful chryftalline appearance j 

 I a cir- 



