CHAPTER XT, 



THE MINAHA8SA. 



December 2%tK — Early tMs morning rode aljout 

 two miles from Sonder in a nortliwest direction, 

 down over tlie edge of the plateau on wliicli that 

 village is situated. The road was nothing but a 

 narrow path, and led along a deep ravine, whose 

 sides in several places were high precipices. A short 

 distance beyond the native village of Tinchep is the 

 beautiful waterfall Munte, nine hundred and sixty- 

 four feet above the sea, but six hundi'ed and fifty 

 below Sonder. The height of the fall is about sixty 

 feetj and the width of the stream at this time is 

 nearly twenty. The rock over which it pours is 

 a perpendicular wall of trachytic lava. The place 

 from which travellers view the fall is some two 

 hundred feet above it, where the road runs along the 

 side of a mountain-chain, that curves in the form of 

 a horseshoe around it, and mates a magnificent 

 background for this charming picture. Luxuriant 

 foliage hangs over the stream above the cataract, and 

 vines and small trees have found a foothold in the 

 crevices and on the projecting ledges of the steep 

 wall beneath; and as the showers of falling drops 

 strike the ends of their branches, they continually 



