198 
NATURAL BRIBGES. 
posing tlie superior stratum of rock, had resisted 
which tore asunder these mountains. I’he uni^if^ 
■A 
continuation of this 
bed would thus 
quartzose wuuiu , 
bridge, which affords a passage from one part of 
to the other. This surprising natural arch is 
feet in length, forty in width, and eight feet in 
tlie centre. By experiments carefully made on 
... W. V>UA AAittClV.- J 
bodies, its height above the level of the water j f. 
rent, 
twenty feet. 
;r ^ y 
has been ascertained to be about three huud' 
The depth of the torrent, at the 
of the water, may be estimated at twenty feet. 
of tlie valley of Icononzo, for the security ot 
have formed a fence of reeds, which extends to ' 
leading to this first natural bridge 
tlie' 
to ' |l»l 
At the distance of sixty feet below is another, - , 
the traveller is conducted by a path descending 
edge of the chasm. Three enormous masses of ’’O'' « 
fallen Into such positions as enable tliem reclp''®‘jj^l|' 
support each other. ■ The one in the centre forth^ , 
of tlie vault, — an accident which may have coO' 
the natives of tliis spot an idea of arched masoiuTi 
was unknown to the people of the new world. 
O'’."/ 
to the ancient inhabitants of Egypt. It is uncertO‘^j(,i«, 
ther these portions of rock have been projected 
distance, or are merely the fragments of an 
lias been destroyed on the spot, but which was 
similar to die upper natural bridge. This last 
is rendered probable by an analogous accident, 
in the Coliseum at Rome, where there are seen, ‘‘ 
half fallen, several stones which were arreste' 
'd “> 
descent, because in falling they happened to form ’ 
In the midst of this second natural bridge is an o]?jj 
about twenty-five feet in every direction, tbroao jo/ 
•yiio 
die eye reaches the bottom of the abyss. - 
appears to run into a dark cavern, whence 3 'j^^iiL; 
sound proceeds, formed by the cries of an 
nocturnal birds which inhabit the chasm, and 
sight may be taken for those bats of a iiionstro^’ ,|l)y 
well kno'vn in the equinoctial regions. They j^tJ 
perceived by the help of lighted brands, throw'’ ^i 
chasm to illuiii'.nate its side.s ; ami thousands ot ' pt 
thus be distinguished, skiraming along the st"''" 
