20 
WANDERINGS IN 
FIRST 
JOURNEY, 
of rocks, with a tremendous noise, divided into two 
foamy streams, which, at their junction again, form 
a small island covered with wood. Above this 
island, for a short space, there appears but one 
stream, all white with froth, and fretting and 
boiling amongst the huge rocks which obstruct its 
course. 
Higher up it is seen dividing itself into a short 
channel or two, and trees grow on the rocks which 
caused its separation. The torrent, in many places, 
has eaten deep into the rocks, and split them into 
large fragments, by driving others against them. 
The trees on the rocks are in bloom and vigour, 
though their roots are half bared, and many of them 
bruised and broken by the rushing waters. 
This is the general appearance of the fall from 
the level of the water below, to where the river is 
smooth and quiet above. It must be remembered, 
that this is during the periodical rains. Probably, 
in the dry season, it puts on a very different appear¬ 
ance. There is no perpendicular fall of water of any 
consequence throughout it, but the dreadful roaring 
and rushing of the torrent, down a long, rocky, and 
moderately sloping channel, has a line effect; and 
the stranger returns well pleased with what he has 
seen. No animal, nor craft of any kind, could stem 
this downward flood. In a few moments the first 
would be killed, the second dashed in pieces. 
The Indians have a path alongside of it, through 
the forest, where prodigious crabwood trees grow. 
Up this path they drag their canoes, and launch them 
