FALLS OF YELLALA. 
541 
which broke* furiously over them, but towards the 
north shore it ran in a smooth though very rapid 
channel. Its force, though considered impassable 
by the natives, would have been easily overcome by 
Captain Tuckey, h^d there appeared any prospect 
of being able to navigate much higher* But its as- 
pect was very formidable, being enclosed within 
lofty, rugged, and perpendicular rocks, reminding 
Dr Smith of the torrent rivers of Norway^ They 
understood moreover, that, some miles higher, 
was Yellala itself, a much more formidable and 
indeed tremendous cataract. Captain Tuckey 
therefore determined to carry the boats no far- 
ther, till he had examined how far it was possible 
to overcome this last obstacle. He landed there- 
fore with the gentlemen and a part of the crew, 
and walked up to within a mile and a half of the 
cataract, which was there in full view. The whole 
party, at seeing it, were struck with the deepest 
disappointment. Instead of a second Niagara, 
they saw, says Captain Tuckey, " only a compa- 
" rative brook bubbling over its stony bed," and 
Dr Smith calls it " a pond of water only, with a 
" fall of a few hundred yards." The opposite 
sides consist here of two very high hills of naked 
granite rock, between which the river has forced a 
passage, filled, however, with rocks, among which 
it roars furiously. A small rocky island rises in 
the middle, which seems, even during the highest 
