CATARACTS, ^C. 



451 



sand, clay, Sec. being exactly similar from top to 

 bottom on both sides. Several large trees grow 

 Upon the arch. The road leading to the bridge runs 

 through a thick wood, and up a hill ; which, being 

 ascended nearly to the top, the visitor pauses for a 

 moment, at finding a sudden discontinuance of trees 

 at one side, but the amazement which fills the mind 

 is great indeed, when, on going a few paces towards 

 the part which appears thus open, he finds himself 

 on the brink of a tremendous precipice. He invo- 

 hmtarily draws back, and stares around ; " then fall- 

 ing (says Mr. Jefferson) on his hands and knees, 

 creeps to the parapet, and peeps over it." The 

 very edge of the bridge may be approached with 

 safety, being protected by a parapet of fixed rocks. 

 At the distance of a few yards from the bridge, a nar- 

 row path winds along the sides of the fissure, amidst 

 immense rocks and trees, down to the bottom of the 

 bridge. From this spot the prospect is truly grand : 

 besides this view from below, the bridge is seen to 

 very great advantage, from a pinnacle of rocks, 

 about fifty feet below the top of the fissure ; for 

 here not only the arch is seen in all its beauty, but 

 the spectator is impressed in the most forcible man- 

 ner with ideas of its grandeur, from being enabled at 

 the same time to look down into the profound gulf 

 over which it pasi,es. 



The Ararat, or Pilot mountain, about sixteen miles 

 north-west of Salem, in North Carolina, draws the 

 attention of every curious traveller in this part of the 

 state. It is discernible at the distance of sixty or se- 

 venty miles, overlooking the country below. It was 

 anciently called the Pilof, by the Indians, as it serv- 



