The English Period 



I frequently crawled along on both hands; the zeal with which I 1796 

 pursued my object gave me a dextrous activity, which I was not iancour 

 conscious of possessing. I several times abandoned myself 

 entirely to chance, and thus I toiled a mile and half to reach the 

 foot of this stupendous cataract. . . . 



Near this spot is a whirlpool, the spray of which drenches 

 your clothes even at a distance. The columns of foam, arising 

 from the falls, mix again with the descending stream. The bason 

 itself is hidden by this thick cloud, and the tremendous noise, 

 which is more violent here than any where else, is the only enjoy- 

 ment to be attained. You may proceed a few paces on pieces of 

 rock, lying between the column of water and the rocks from which 

 it rushes down; but here you are completely sequestered from 

 the world, you are even deprived of the prospect of the falls by 

 the column of water, which, by its density and motion, intercepts 

 the free access of air to such a degree, that suffocation must 

 unavoidably be the result of a long continuance in this place. 



It is impossible to describe the impression, which this cataract 

 made upon our minds. Fancy, which had long cherished the hope 

 of viewing it, now offered pictures, which might seem exaggerated, 

 yet were much inferior to the reality. To attempt a description 

 of the impression we felt, would be equivalent to a description 

 of the falls; an attempt far exceeding our powers. The enthusi- 

 asm, which seized my soul at the aspect of this magnificent spec- 

 tacle, was too powerful to be weakened by our unpleasant journey 

 back to the Fort; and it was not until I arrived at Captain Hamil- 

 ton's, that I found leisure to notice my weariness, my hunger, my 

 bruises, the miserable condition of my clothes, and the time of 

 the day. — It was two o'clock. 



Monday, the 22d of June. 



We left Chippaway early in the morning, with an intention 

 of once more visiting the falls. The rain, which fell in torrents, 

 could not deter us from our design. I saw it now from a spot, 



113 



