A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHlPEf-AOO. 



lake was peifectly fresh ; but it may be observed that 

 \?hile it is called the innm* lake, because we approached it 

 through tbe other, it is, m fact, very little fiirtlier inland 

 than the first. 



This grand discovery bciii^ conummicated to tlie other 

 rambling parties, curiosity became here concentrated. 

 Men and axes were procured from the ship ; the trees 

 were crtt dowii, and a road made up the gap, and so over 

 to the fresh-water lake, A raft was then conatmcted, 

 and, together with a small boat belonging to the tender, 

 was very shortly launched upon the upper water. 



Our operations soon drew some of the natives to the 

 spot, wlio expostulated on our proceedings, informing tis 

 that the waters of the lake were sacred, and had ueyer 

 yet been desecrated by the presence or by the pressure 

 of an earthly eanoe ; that the Spirit of the Lake (by 

 description a Fiery Dragon of tlie worst order) would 

 not fail to manifest his displeasure at the innovation ; 

 and that nothing would induce them to venture on it. 

 These scruples were, however, got over by one of them 

 after he liad swallowed a glass of grog. 



It was not until we were afloat on the inuer lake, that 

 we were enabled to form a correct idea of the beauty of 

 its encircling barners, and of the luxuriant vegetation 

 which graced them. We had then also the best view of 

 the extraordinary gap through which we had passed into 

 it. The saiiLlstone cliffs were more perpendicular on the 

 fi-esh-watcr side, assuming the appearance of mjissive 



