Notice of the Tockoa and Tallulah Falls. 21 1 



the stupendous banks of solid rock, descending almost per- 

 pendicularly to the water on both sides of the river, and va- 

 rying in the distance of a mile, from seven hundred to one 

 thousand feet in height, so that the stream literally passes 

 that distance through the mountain, or rather through the 

 high lands that connect two mountains.* 



The visitor approaches from the west, finds an easy de- 

 scent for the last mile, and drives his carriage to the very 

 edge of the gulf. No unusual appearances of pointed rocks 

 or broken lands admonish him that the Rapids are near, 

 till suddenly he sees the opening abyss. He advances cau- 

 tiously, from tree to tree, till he looks down upon the water. 

 Instantly, his mind surrenders itself to the overwhelming- 

 sensation of awe and amazement. He neither speaks nor 

 smiles — and even a jest or smile from a friend is painful to 

 his feelings ; which, particularly with the ladies, (as at the 

 Niagara Falls,) are often relieved by weeping. Some of 

 our company, hurrying down to the brink without giving the 

 mind time to collect itself, experienced dizziness and faint- 

 ness, and were compelled to crawl back. 



Here are no artificial embellishments. The scenery wears 

 the artless robe of nature's wiidness. The romantic variety, 

 magnificence and sublimity of Jehovah's works are untouch- 

 ed by human hands. The Rapids are in the bosom of a 

 forest, in which are seen burrows of foxes, and dens of rattle- 

 snakes, and in which are heard the howling of wolves, and 

 the screaming of eagles, — there the wild deer bound grace- 

 fully through the small bushes, and pass the trees rifted by 

 lightning.t 



In front of the spectator, the perpendicular face of the 

 rock on the opposite shore, presenting an endless variety of 



* I regret to give these numbers by estimation, but the heights and distan- 

 ces have never been accurately measured. I offer the general estimation of 

 visitors as stated by our guide who resides near the place. The only descrip- 

 tion of these Rapids that has ever been published is from the pen of Mr. Hill- 

 house of Georgia, and published in Niles' Register Oct. 1819, which accurate- 

 ly describes the scenery, and its effects upon the spectator. His account how- 

 ever of the heights of the banks is too small by more than one half.. I have, 

 since visiting the Rapids, looked from the base and from the top of the Table 

 Rock, the perpendicular of which measured by a line from the surface of the 

 lake, to the celebrated cedar bush is seven hundred and thirty four feet. This 

 view confirmed my opinion, that the present estimation of the height of the 

 banks at the Rapids i3 near the true one. 



t A deer bounded along, and a pine near us was splintered with lightning 

 while we were viewing the Rapids. 



