144 Notes of a trip up the Salween. [No. 3, 
on our return the next morning; but towards evening, some of our 
party, who had been exploring, came and informed us that they had 
discovered a way to get up the rocks on the opposite side, and that 
having ascended that way they had come upon a waterfall. As we 
wished not to leave the place without being able to speak positively 
on the subject of the fall, and thinking that there might yet be one 
higher up the stream but hid from our view, we resolved to stop 
another day, and explore on the morrow. We did so, and climbed 
the way pointed out to us; and thus, taking the passage before 
mentioned in the rear, we got a good view of the river for a mile or 
so above it. As far asthe eye could see, the course of the river lay 
through an extremely narrow valley and was impeded the whole way 
by huge granite boulders. The fall of level also was considerable ; 
and near the spot where we stood, it took a sudden perpendicular leap 
of some 30 feet, into a deep and very confined square hole, which at 
once turned the water at a right angle, whence it rushed on, and after 
2 or 3 similar sharp turns within the length of a hundred yards, dashed 
through the beforementioned passage into the pool. We had now 
seen all certainly and could positively assert that the greatest perpen- 
dicular fall the Yoonzalin makes here, is not more than 30 feet. 
Though disappointed of a grand sight, we yet considered ourselves 
well repaid for our toil by the general beauty of the spot and by the 
very remarkable character of that natural feature in the scenery which 
I have attempted to describe; the narrow street with perpendicular 
walls through which the whole river, as well when at its height in the 
rainy season, as in dry weather, has to make its way. Several persons 
have thought that Pine logs might, in the rains, be floated down this 
river to Moulmein : but no one who had visited the Yay-tagon would 
allow it to be possible. No log could, I am convinced, pass this part 
of the river’s course without being broken to pieces. It is unfortunate | 
that all the Pine forests should be above the fall. 
There was one drawback to our full enjoyment at this place. There 
is a pest here in the shape of a very small fly, met with happily no 
where else, which attacks every exposed part of the body most viru- 
lently. Its puncture immediately raises a blood pustule and causes 
considerable irritation for several days afterwards. I could scarcely 
sketch for these tormentors ; and when we bathed, especially, their 

