FALLS OF FOYEllS. 
603 
passage over this torrent was a rude alpine contrivance, consistingtof 
some sticks tlirown over the rocks, and covered witli turf*. It was 
crossed by the peasantry on foot, but it must certainly have turned 
giddy the steadiest heads unaccustomed to such scenes. About three 
years before the present bridge W'as built, a neighbouring farmer, on 
his way home from Inverness, had called at the General’s Hut, to 
shelter himself from the inclemency of the storm, and drive out the 
invading cold by reinforcing the garrison in the stomach. Here 
he met with some old acquaintance, with whom he conversed of 
former times, w ithout observing the frequency of the circulating glass. 
The snow continued to fall in thick flakes, and they were sitting by 
a comfortable fire : at last, w'hen the fumes of the whiskey had taken 
possession of his brain, and raised his spirits to no ordinary pitch, 
he determined to go home. When he came to this place, having 
been accustomed to cross the bridge on foot, he habitually took his 
road, and forced his horse over it. Next morning he had some faint 
recollection of the circumstance, though the seeming impossibility 
of the thing made him suspect that it was a dream : but, as the 
ground was covered with snow, it was easy to convince himself ^ he 
accordingly went, and on perceiving the tracks of his horse’s feet across 
the bridge, he fell ill and died shortly afterwards. In our way to 
the lower Fall, our guide shewed a cave of considerable size, near 
the river, where the freebooters used to shelter themselves in turbu- 
lent times. There was a way of escape towards the water, should 
the main entry be discovered. — Our next object w'as the lower Fall. 
W’lien we came to the rude pillars before mentioned, we left the road, 
and went down the side of the hill. The descent to the point of 
view is difficult, but we were amply repaid for our trouble. The 
following particulars were communicated by our guide. 
From the top of the rocks to the surface of the water, 470 feet. — 
Height of the Fall in one continued stream, 207 feet. — From the ' 
surface of the smooth water above, to the beginning of the uninter- 
rupted Fall, 5 feet : — so that the height of the Fall may properly be 
called 212 feet. — Down this precipice the river rushes with a noise 
like thunder into the abyss below, forming an unbroken stream as 
white as snow. From the violent agitation arises a spray which 
envelops the spectator, and spreads to a considerable distance. The 
following beautiful description of this Fall was written by Burns as he 
was standing b*y it : 
“Among the heathy hills and ragged w'oods. 
The roaring Foyers pours his noisy floods. 
Till full he dashes on the rocky mounds. 
Where through a shapeless beach his stream resounds. 
As high in air the bursting torrents flow. 
As deep recoiling surges foam below. 
Prone down the rock the whitening sheet descends, 
And viewless Echo’s ear astonish’d rends : 
Dim seen, through rising nfists and careless showers, 
The hoary cavern wide surrounding lowrs; 
Still through the gap the struggling river toils, 
And still below the horrid caldron boils.” 
