460 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCUIl'ELAGO, 



heavy rains, and a small stream, separate from the 

 main fall, was shooting over the high edge of the 

 precipice. On a steep declivity near by, a small 

 stream had coursed pai-t way down, completely hid- 

 den from view by the thick sheet of vegetation that 

 covered the TOcks, until, striking some obstacle, it 

 flew off into the air in a great jet, which appeared to 

 come out of the solid rock. 



From Fort de Kock my course was nearly west a 

 day's ride to Paya Kombo. At first the road led 

 over a level or slightly undulating land which 

 abounds in villages, and is highly cultivated. A 

 number of small streams that rise on the northern 

 flanks of the gi'eat M^rapi, flow northward across the 

 plain, and then turn to the east and join to fonn the 

 Batang Agam. Nine miles out we came to a range 

 of jagged hills, the scanty soil on their sides only 

 serving to make their shai*p, projecting rocks more 

 conspicuous and unsightly, like a tattered garment 

 thrown over a skeleton. This rock I found to be a 

 highly crystalline marble of a blue color, completely 

 split up i>y joints and fissures into cubical blocks, 

 whose outer surfaces have everywhere become greatly 

 roughened by the action of rain and heat. Sub- 

 sequently I had an oppoiivmity of learning that it 

 makes a very valuable kind of white lime. 



We presently found ourselves descending into a 

 beautiiul valley, through which the Agam, abeady 

 a considerable stream, courses rapidly along. The 

 road immediately approached its banks, crossed it 

 over a high stone bridge, and then ran along a nar- 

 row teiTace cut in a high precipice of the limestone 



