162 DESCRIPTION OF 



all human conception, is evident from the num- 

 ber of huge masses of granite of the most fan- 

 tastic shapes projecting out in the most sin- 

 gular positions in all directions. From the nar- 

 rowness of the gorge and the abrupt rise of 

 the mountains from the river, if future travellers 

 confirm the opinion of Dr. Briggs and myself 

 of the existence of the remains of an immense 

 crater on the eastern side of it, there may be 

 grounds for supposing that volcanic agency has 

 been the principal means employed ; but as 

 neither of us were able to land there, our 

 opinions must be considered as conjectural. 



After passing the Kong Mountains, a beautiful 



reach of the river, about fifteen miles long, with 



an average width of three thousand yards, 



stretches to the confluence of the Shary, where 



there are several rocky islands. One of these 



presents a most curious appearance, which I can 



compare to nothing else than to that part of 



Arthur's Seat called " Samson's Ribs," provided 



they were laid horizontally and twisted in the 



most fantastic curves. I observed that the bed 



of the river was changed in its character after 



leaving the alluvial soil. There were no mud 



banks : they were now formed of coarse sand, 



