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could remain dry beneath a large sheet of water, 

 that precipitated itself in an arch from above 

 the barrier. In other cavities, deeper, but less 

 spacious, the rock was pierced by the effect of 

 successive filtrations. We saw columns of 

 water, eight or nine inches broad, descend from 

 the top of the vault, and find an issue by clefts, 

 that seemed to communicate at great distances 

 with each other. 



The cascades of Europe, forming only one 

 fall, or several falls close to each other, can 

 never produce such variety in the shifting land^ 

 scape. This variety is peculiar to rapids, to a 

 succession of small cataracts several miles in 

 length, to rivers that force their way across 

 rocky dikes and accumulated blocks of granite. 

 We enjoyed this extraordinary sight longer than 

 we wished. Our boat was to coast the eastern 

 bank of a narrow island, and to take us in again 

 after a long circuit. We passed an hour and 

 half in vain expectation of it. Night approached, 

 and with it a tremendous storm. It rained with 

 violence. We began to fear, that our frail bark 

 had been wrecked against the rocks, and that 

 the Indians, conformably to their habitual indif- 

 ference for the evils of others, had returned tran- 

 quilly to the mission. We were only three per- 

 sons : completely wet, and uneasy respecting the 

 fate of our boat, it appeared far from agreeable 

 to us, to pass, without sleep, a long night of the 



