The English Period 



tioned before. Being excessively fatigued and warm we sat *785 

 down sometime to refresh ourselves, and prepare for advancing. 

 Here we undressed and in our boots and trowzers, began the 

 most hazardous expedition I was ever engaged in. 



After climbing over several very high and craggy rocks, we 

 came to the first of the small falls, under which we passed with- 

 out much inconvenience, though the pressure of the water was so 

 great from the height it fell, that I can only compare it to a 

 violent storm of hail, but when we came to the second through 

 which our guide with difficulty passed, I felt no inclination to 

 proceed. Cur guide returned to encourage us, and upon my 

 hands and feet I followed him, expecting each moment to sink 

 under the weight of water, but I began to find it less disagreeable 

 as I advanced, and I was soon relieved by enjoying the open 

 air, which now I breathed with pleasing avidity. Here we 

 reposed a little. My friend Hunter was entirely spent; I re- 

 pented his coming, for fear of some accident, and indeed had 

 endeavored to dissuade him from this perilous excursion, but he 

 could not bear being left behind. 



We now were recovered in some degree, and proceeded 

 toward the great fall, and here I may say with propriety, that 

 the most awful scene was now before me that we had yet seen. 

 Our difficulties and dangers as well as our gratifications, had 

 been progressive and this was the height of our ambitious pursuit. 

 I have before remarked that the waters run over the shelve of 

 rocks, that pend over in many places their base. The great 

 force with which they are precipitated, gives them an horizontal 

 direction, so that at the bottom where v/e stood, it left an 

 opening between the water and the rocks. It was here we 

 entered by slow and cautious steps. It soon became dark, 

 which proves the immense body of water there must be betwixt 

 us and the light, for we all know we can see a great depth in 

 the river, and here I should imagine the light would assist in 

 rendering it more transparent, but we found it opake or dark. 

 We had proceeded about 15 to 20 yards, when we found it so 



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