The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-12

gether, entirely uncovered by the interlac-
ing branches of the spreading hap-tree. Af-
ter ascending from one of these dark pas
sages, Mr.. Bingham suddenly cautioned me
against the violence of the wind we should
soon meet; at the same time, the rushing of
heavy blasts was heard, intmatng like the
roarings of cateract, or the mutterings of
volcano, and approach to one Of the most
sublime phenomena Of nature; and on alb
ruptly turning the angle of projecting rock
with an admiration approaching to terror,
found myself balancing in strongly con-
flicting currents of air, on the brink of a
prccipice little less than thousand feet in
perpendicular descent, without the para
pet Of a single stone to guard against the fa-
tai consequences q false step. Immedi-
ately before me, It the foot of this trcmcnd-
Gus Offset, in most perfect birds eye view,
lay widely extended, cultivated and thick
ly inhabited country, against whose distant
shores the peaceful billows Of the Pacific
were rolling, in ever varying and snowy
whitcness--whilc farther still, the blue wa
ters of the ocean rose in gradual ascent, till,
apparently midway between heaven and
Garth, they met the sky, in ha2iness that
rendered either distinguishablc from the
other only by the regularity of scarcely dis
cernible horizon. To the right and to the
left, within stones throw Of the rock on
which ! stood, two richly covered pyramid
al peaks rose many thousand feet above my
head, while beyond them, on either Side,
summit after summit of mountains, whose
broad bases were planted in the valley be-
low, appeared in long perspective, till with
semcircular sweep, both chains terminal
ed i'll the sea by bold and romantic headand'
rendered more picturesque by partial
continuation of detached cliffs and islets. II
full view behind, was the beautiful valley
through which we had ascended, gradual!
sinking from the very spot on which We
stood, to the now miniature town and por
of Honoaruru, beyond which again rose "the
ilimitable sea-"
The sublimity of the whole was not lit
tie increased BY the almost Overwhelming
sounds of the trade wind, as i swept alang
the mountains, which resisted its progress tc
this narrow pass-through which it rushed
with irresistible velocity and power, bearing
in it's broad current and whirling eddies
leaves, sand. and even pebbles, which NIGH
claim the name of stones Such was the ct
| feet of this, that though every thing far an,
near CLEANED in the brightness Of q. cloud
ssist the impression that VIC were standing
| .amid the ragings of a tcmpest-an ILLUSION
not diminished by the lfar.l. surr1-ns OF tn,
sen ruii, ana cry CT the tropic bird, as the,
passed us on rapid wing to the| lofty peak
above, or fastened to sail again in the calme
regions beneath our feet.
None but an atheist could have kept hi
thoughts from rising to that Being of n.ajes
ty and power who founded the earth an'
hung it upon nothing formed til
,Ip3 ts,,.l.
shut up the sea and said, hitherto shalt tho,
come, but no farther; and here shall tn,
proud waves be staid." And in the livcl
, contemplation of the marvellous wisdom ant
F omnipctcnce that overlooks and upholls tn
mighty wonders Of the universe, we coul
not but feel the force of the humbling inter
rogative, 80 Lord, what is man that Tho
art mindful of him, or the son of man tina
THou visitcst hims"
After gazing on the various objects c
grandeur and beauty BIZ which we were sur
rounded, till our eyes were fatieued, "
G made a short descent by a narrow foot path
= by which clnging from rock to rock and fror
cliff to cliff, you may reach the plain tc'.ow
Having gratiied our curiosity in this man
u ncr. by what considered dangerous expo
i rimcnt, VIC returned to the summit; and i
!. the cleft OF rock where we were shielde
a from the wind, partook Of The refreshment
we had brought with rs.
Before commencing our return to the vii
LACE, tried my pencil OIL the scene. but til
merest outline is all Car ever make ofth
. sketch; to give any thing like the distanc
and depth necessary to produce the require
u effect, would demand more than a master
= skill.
arzz1sSs5xuxsx.r w7.zsry-r-.TnuS