BOOK II. CHAP. VII. ^5 



fied with a variety of the loveHeft tints. And, to complete the 

 pifture, the bafon is ornamented with two elegant trees of the 

 palm kind, which fpring like ftrait columns out of the water, 

 placed by the hand of nature at fuch even diftance from the banks 

 on each fide, that art could not have done the work with more 

 attention to propriety and exaiflnefs. The whole, indeed, has been 

 executed by nature in a tafte that furpaffes either defcription or imi- 

 tation. The late Sir Charles P e, within whofe territory it lay,. 



would not fuffer the leaft alterations to be made to it, although fome 

 of the fteps might eafily be cut fo as to be reftilineal. He pre- 

 ferred its natural beauties; and, in order to enjoy them, formed a 

 club of gentlemen, and built a range of apartments on a pretty 

 lawnjufl: fronting the cafcade. Here they had an annual meeting, 

 which continued fome weeks ; during which, they took the di- 

 verfion of (hooting the ring-tail pidgeons, which in this part of the 

 country are very numerous, and in great perfe£lion at the proper 

 feafon. If the lefler cafcade is delicate and curious, this is grand 

 and fublime. The former is contemplated with delight, and this 

 with a pleafmg and reverential wonder. The fall is faid to exceed 

 in grandeur that of Tivoll, or any other in Europe, though much 

 inferior to that of Niagara. 



The grotto in this pari(h, near Dry Harbour, and about four- 

 teen miles Weft from St. Anne's Bay, is fituated at the foot of a 

 rocky hill, under which it runs for a conliderable way, and then 

 branches into feveral adits, fome of which penetrate fo far, that no 

 pcrfon has yet ventured to difcover their ending. The front is ex- 

 tremely Gothic in its appearance. It is the perpendicular tace of a 

 rock, having two arched entrances about twenty feet afunder, 

 which look as if they had anciently been door-ways, but funk by 

 time or accident to within two or three feet of their lintels. In 

 the centre of the rock, between thefe portals, is a natural niche, 

 ^bout four feet in height, and as many from the ground, which 

 might well be fuppofed intended for the reception of a madona, ef- 

 pecially as at the foot of it is a fmall excavation, or bafon, pro- 

 jected a little beyond the face of the rock; which feems a very pro- 

 per refervoir for holy water. Excited by the accounts I had heard 

 of this celebrated curiofity, I made one among a party to viiit it. 



After 



