FALL OF TEI^UENDAMA. 179 



rapid, and the changes beautiful and vari- 

 ous, as this vast body of water sends up 

 its dense vapours, w^hich, ascending and 

 mingling w^ith the atmosphere, form beauti- 

 ful rainbows. The comparatively trifling 

 stream which issues from the bottom of the 

 fall, affords convincing evidence of the ex- 

 cessive evaporation which takes place. A 

 remarkable variety of climate is observable 

 here. The plain is covered with grain and 

 the trees of the Temperate Zone. At the 

 foot of the fall are the palms of the equinoc- 

 tial valleys. The face of the rock, which 

 terminates the plain of Bogota, is very 

 abrupt and perpendicular ; and the descent 

 to the Rio Meta (the name which the river 

 assumes from the termination of the fall to 

 the rival Magdalena) from the river Bogota 

 employs three hours. From the spot where 

 the traveller pauses to observe this wonder 

 of nature, the mountains rise in lofty ma- 

 jesty, covered with wood, — and birds of bril- 

 N 2 



