4-9C DAGGERS OF THE RIVER. 



clefts and humid sides of the rock. This spot displayed on 

 of the most extraordinary scenes of nature, that \ve had 

 contemplated on the banks of the Orinoco. The river rolled 

 its waters turbulently over our heads. It seemed b'ke the 

 sea dashing against reefs of rocks ; but at the entrance 01 

 the cavern we could remain dry beneath a large sheet of 

 water that precipitated itself in an arch from above the 

 barrier. In other cavities, deeper, but less spacious, the rock 

 was pierced by the effect of successive filtrations. We saw 

 columns of water, eight or nine inches broad, descending 

 from the top of the vault, and finding an issue by clefts, that 

 seemed to communicate at great distances with each other. 



The cascades of Europe, forming only one fall, or several 

 falls close to each other, can never produce such variety in 

 the shifting landscape. This variety is peculiar to rapids, 

 to a succession of small cataracts several miles in length, 

 to rivers that force their way across rocky dikes and 

 accumulated blocks of granite. "We had the opportunity of 

 viewing this extraordinary sight longer than we wished. 

 Our boat was to coast the eastern bank of a narrow island, 

 and to take us in again after a long circuit. We passed an 

 hour and a half in vain expectation of it. Night approached, 

 and with it a tremendous storm. It rained with violence. 

 We began to fear that our frail bark had been wrecked 

 against the rocks, and that the Indians, conformably to 

 their habitual indifference for the evils of others, had 

 returned tranquilly to the mission. There were only three 

 of us : we were completely wet, and uneasy respecting the 

 fate of our boat : it appeared far from agreeable to pass, 

 without sleep, a long night of the torrid zone, amid the 

 noise of the Raudales. M. Bonpland proposed to leave me 

 in the island with Don Nicolas Soto, and to swim across the 

 branches of the river, that are separated by the granitic 

 dikes. He hoped to reach the forest, and seek assistance at 

 Atures from Father Zea. We dissuaded him with difficulty 

 from undertaking this hazardous enterprise. He knew 

 little of the labyrinth of small channels, into which the 

 Orinoco is divided. Most of them have strong whirlpools, 

 and what passed before our eyes, while we were deliberating 

 on our situation, proved sufficiently, that the natives had 

 decsived us respecting the absence of crocodiles in the 



