Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-10-22
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RAPIDS OF TALLULAH.

RAPIDS OF TALLULAH
tERoN rag GEORGIA JOURNAL
During late excursion through the north
err frontier of Georgia, L visited a number of
natural curiOsiies such a. the falls at Ivy, i'm
Seque, and the rapids of palluah, This lat
ter obi CT is almost unknown to any person
beyond It's ood-it however merits
10 be Known and admired, az one of the great
est curiost;es, in the United States. For the
Information of those who delight 10 know OF
the extraordinary exhibitions of nature will
describe TO yon the rapids of 'rallulah. This
stream Is by the Cherokee Indians called I'M
some places Tarrura at other places Tallu-
lah, tits tile western branch of 'ruyulo river
aud The rapids are situated about 10 miles
above ITS Junction with Cbattuga river which
rs tile eastern branch OfTugalo. Mr.. Sturges
mas entered this river in his map OF Georgia
DS tue name of furOree, which is a very diff
feIent pronunciation of the name from any
heard from its neighbourinx inhabitants
The rapids of 1allplah are about 10 miles
northeast OF tlabersham courthouse, Tor the
place appointed for its temporary location y
at this SPOT the river passes through a range
orfidge OF mountains for somewhat more than
q mile, forming for its bed an awful galt, and
tor ITS banks stupeDdous fronts of solid rock
hke those OF the Niagara just below its great
cataract. and OF the Gebesee, below the fall in
that stream, few miles above lake Ontario
hese banks of Tallniah are worn by IFS WA
ter In many places into caverss and grotesuu
hgures, aud often The sides perpendicular
arc smooth hey bud The means of art to initiate
just at the head and also at the foot of the
rapids. the banks of TallulaI river are moi
more than ordinary height above common
Water-inaTk. In the intermediate distance tle
height of the banks varies from 200 TO 500 f. Of
perpendicular. The width of the river is from
10 TO 100 feet. There are four perpendicular
pitches OF wafer, OF from so to so feet and a
great many smaller cltaracts of from IN IN On
feet perpendicular pitch. / am cop6dent
that within the extent of the rapids. saw a
mile, the tall OF water Is. not less than BOG or
o. '+rt
The distance and measure have given are
by estimation, for had no means of accurate
computation; but the distances stated are
TIE minimum estimates of the company who
were with me CONSISTING of four respectable
and Intelligent persOns.) There are but two
or three points by which person eau possibly
descend To the bed of the river and those re
the tracks OF small rivalets, emptying them
selves into The river on the west side aud max
ing several very steep preciplces down which
enc may possibly pass by aid from the shrub
berry that Crews in the hollows. When arrived
al The aters edge, TO look out a the opening of
The great cliffs above is surprising, interesting
alarming! These cliffs, combined with the
Ioaioi"g, roaring bounding, impetuOus current
OF water, exhibit novelty, beauty, and gram
Ceur, III the greatest degree.
Inc nrct impression on the mind of the visi-
tor as he approaches 80 uear TO the edge of the
precplce as 10 get sight of the water. il
alarming yet inviting, awful vet grand and
sublime. AT the instant he views the current
tome hundred feet below him he shrinks back
IN apprehension of his destruction stillcuri
onS To view IT more, he cautiously advances
again, till, by degrees, he becomes so familiar
Z" the scenery as to be dissatisfied frop IL
At every step The visitor observes some new
Gr">s mat adds new interest to the sceuery
Hut there Is no tiUseiled ornament on the
banks of the TaliuIah. Ina wild uncuItivat
90 and barren country, no art has been intro
duced 10 drface this grand exhibition of ma
ture. It's neigbbourbOnd is iuhabite only hv
ferocious beasts Of prey, bears, wolves, and
via cats ana soaring eagles, aud fairy peoples
q bas scarcely beea visited until yer, lately even
~ Tue adventurous hUntsman 81 his hounds
hcniptured chasms aud fronts, elevated nor
Gals, formidable stOCkadea, imprepu abIe for-
UesSes, deep perpendicular Cascades and
successive bounding currents added 10 tl,e
niihy raInDOws 7bat continually shine when
the SUI does through the spray thai rises
ffnh Tue falling water aud the varipnated
cUl"rs in the front of The rocky hanks nj rcd
white, yellow, and brown, and the small riyu.
lels that pour down into the gulf from tho
mountains top, give novelty, beauty. subIi,ni
~ and awe, to the Rapids Of TaIlulab Urre
Ue bare curiosity of aviStoT NAV pertains he
satisfied III week but the intellectual appe-
lite may be Toasted for-aD age
The cataract of Niagara and its GREAT ,ebir.
pool and banks, is the only superior natural
curiosity To the Rapids OF Tallulah. that have
evpt seeu From the summit Of a nuuntain
on the west bank of the river near the lower
a
side OF the stream and from several cliff, nm
the east bank may be had AN extensive and
highly interesting general view of this Ell.
Chanting scenery. One objection TO This mic
tnrfsqHe spot ~ the great prevalence of rho
severest Kind of thunder storms this I Womb
suppose TO prove the presence OF some aitrac
i've mineral ~ the banks Of the river | saw
great numbers OF trees around the falls that
had spiitiered to pieces al different time. by
lightning. NJ companions were with me in
one OF thsse storms. The cloud came no al.
most instaniaueousIy aud unobserved. biack
and dreadful 20 It's aspect. The" red artilie-
~ OF heaven played rapidly and most ire.
WeudOusiy around u. Quick as tIIOupbt neal
folio ed dash, aud all was temppstnous.
in my fIce Of the rock forming The banks mr.
toRHds u tie Tirer aye Seuerai cdret,ls one Of
theSe. IN he eost bunk, dkOm 50 feet bplo,p the
summit, ana 5VOleft from tie Udter, IN the per-
pfhdic0'dr tdce ot the rock hasa door or enfyagcs
apPUemty SIR feet high and four feet ,ride, e. dc,,r
I" small'r aperture: about tUO IettSyudre. This
'Pot Is inaccessible, bit it, e1teFiOr Is plriufy in
gtCw from tie opposite bank, and sceHs 10 IN as
neatly crG'Hted as art and he chjSri cogd rHfei
CONCERNING hts careiB is an iRferestjHg Gt,fign
Gdd'iph, tf"t UdS rCiGted 10 as bg thOse uto had
e'HSpedkfis ~ tAttr councils :" dibe NJ utie In
't"ss O'!n r'abie bVt intangible mais occasional
,"fsi0 ne HrighJouriRs LhfrOOkees & carried MT
ih'HU0Hsn s ehtfdT n. These InatdiferS i-sre al
fcmptcd 20 be ent,aJi, but IN cum heg ,rere at |
fHgM closely puTsgtd and seen 10 take rrJare IN
ne edreIH Of JUhiCh This t0ds door rI,pTg mo sC-
0rls VI tie cdptiUes friends ccre ersr able TO re-
itre her nor evsr again abd 10 ret siedf nj herr
iftS aDry ~ sumo Otter circumstance has D,n,Is
'tch an impression OH tae bI5r, that no (pH-bt,od
lhfTO.ce can b. persgcdca CurntO hsHt ugar me I
i,gpos ~ lsAR!ah