CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 147 



the Chenoo's invitation to visit him, until my return. Oa 

 the farthest end of the banza we unexpectedly saw the fall 

 almost under our feet, and were not less surprised than dis- 

 appointed at finding', instead of a second Niagara, which the 

 description of the natives, and their horror of it had given us 

 reason to expect, a comparative brook bubbling over its 

 stony bed. Halting the people, who complained of fatigue, 

 I went with the genUemen to examine it more closely, and 

 found that what the road wanted in distance, which was not 

 a mile from the banza, it abundantly made up in difficulty, 

 having one enormous hill to descend and a lesser one to 

 climb, to reach the precipice which overhangs the river. 



The south sideof tne river is here a vast hill of bare rock 

 (sienite), and the north a lower but more precipitous hill 

 of the same substance, between which two the river has 

 forced its course ; but in the middle an island of slate still 

 defies its power, and breaks the current into two narrow 

 channels ; that near the south side gives vent to the great 

 mass of the river, but is obstructed by rocks above and 

 under water, over which the torrent rushes with great fury 

 and noise, as may easily be conceived. The channel on 

 the north side is now nearly dry, -and is composed of great 

 masses of slate, with perpendicular fissures. The highest part 

 of the island is 15 feet above the present level, but from the 



