Mr. Delabi^arre's Excurjions on the Blue Mountains. 135 



add a very romantic appearance to that fpot where we relied 

 for the night, under the ruins of an old log-houfe. 



The 27th, A. M. we followed the ftream, coming out of 

 the lower lake, and running to the north-wefl : at the diftance 

 of two miles, it is increafed by two other ftreams, and foon 

 after makes a noble fall about 300 feet perpendicular ; it rulhes 

 down with fuch an impetuofity, that the body of water twilling, 

 itfelf in a fpiral vortex, is in a great meafure evaporated 

 before it reaches the bottom of the precipice. This natural 

 curiofity had been vifited by our Prefident, as we could fee 

 his cypher engraved on a birch tree ftanding on the edp-e of 

 that tremendous fall : on the north lide we faw a large quarry 

 of black flate Hones of the finell grain ; we had a flrong defn e 

 to explore the bottom of fuch a precipice, in order to afcertain 

 more accurately its depth ; but confidering the rill: of breaking 

 our inflruments in that difficult defcent, we took our courfe 

 to the north, then meeting vv^ith the new road, and turning 

 to the weft, we were foon gratified by a fight of a differenl: 

 nature. 



Among fome new lettlenients In the middle of that wildemefs, 

 one attrafted our particular notice : we were welcomed with 

 that cordial hofpitality which feems peculiar to new fettlers ; 

 our hoft, not above 2c years old, entertained us w^irh particulars 

 on the foil, temperature, z^\(:. various fubjetls of agriculture, 

 -TRdiihl: his amiable ccnfcrt. only 15 years eld, was preparing 



