FALL AT PUPPANASSUM. 
61 
there was an expression of malignant scorn upon the 
curl of those lips which were about to offer up their 
devotions to gods more abominable than themselves, 
that satisfied us they wanted not the will, though 
they lacked the daring, to do us a mischief. Alas ! 
that devotion should have such votaries ! No one 
who has witnessed the stern ferocity of feeling encou- 
raged by the deluded supporters of a most extravagant 
idolatry, towards all of a different creed, can well shut 
out the reflection of his own moral advantages, and 
fail to bless his God, with most earnest sincerity of 
purpose, that he was born a member of a Christian 
community. 
Upon turning the angle of a hill, which rose 
abruptly from the valley, the fall burst suddenly upon 
our sight. It was indeed a magnificent spectacle. 
The impression excited was so uncommon, that I was 
obliged to close my eyes for a moment, in order to 
recover from the sudden and almost astounding sur- 
prise. Though the roar of the cataract had been long 
heard before we reached it, so that we were not un- 
prepared for something more than commonly im- 
posing, the reality far transcended our expectations. 
It is precipitated from a height of one hundred and 
fifty feet, pouring over the steep a prodigious body 
of water, which, forcing its way betwixt inter- 
vening rocks, among which it boils and hisses with 
tremendous energy, falls into the deep, dark pool 
beneath with a din and turbulence that are almost 
deafening. The sound of the cataract may be heard 
at the distance of several miles, even in the dry sea- 
son ; but, during the monsoons, when swelled by 
