AMONG THE B ATT AS. 441 



an iinol3stnicted view of tlie cliff, but when we ar- 

 rived tliere a neighboring liill completely bid it from 

 view. He then excused himself by saying that he 

 had never been there before ; and, when I informed 

 him that I must go on until I could see it perfectly, 

 the tears actually stood in his eyes from fear, he was 

 so certain we should meet with the Evil Spirit. One 

 of the Battas, who knew the way, offered to be my 

 guide, and I released the rajah from the Resident's 

 order to accompany me as far as I wished to go, and 

 continued on, for I had no fear of meeting Apollyon 

 in the next valley. 



Two sections at right angles showed that the 

 strata of this cliff were nearly horizontal, and com- 

 posed of a light-colored clay, containing many coarse 

 ciystals of quartz. These materials had recently 

 been formed by the decomposition of the adjoining 

 syenitic rocks, and had been arranged into layers by 

 the action of water. The height to the top of the 

 cliff* from the bed of the brook I judge to be eight 

 hundi'ed feet, and that is at least fifty feet above the 

 level of the sea, making the whole elevation which 

 this part of the island has recently undergone to be 

 eight hundred and fifty feet. 



When we retui^ned to the Batta village, the rajah 

 seemed gi*eatly relieved, for he declared that he 

 believed he should never see us again. Such are 

 the superstitious terrors that constantly torture the 

 imaginations of these ignorant people. On our re- 

 turn, a heavy rain set in, which completely drenched 

 us and swelled the l)rook. Again and again the 

 strong current came near sweeping us off the sli])pery 



