The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-28

around-the uighty cliffs and peaks that reared
their heads thousands OF feet above ns, and the
steady, majestic motion of the feecy fall in front,
as 1t descended some two or three hundred feet in
full view, flung a charm over every one Of the
party, and chained every tongue in silence.
Row long we sat there, in breathless admiration,
know not, and all were 10th to leave the delightful
scene. But the sun already high ia the
heavens, aud we had still hard days work before
w. Pursuing our way down the steep path, we
soon came TO grassy dell beyond, through which
our horses could not proceed. they were unsadd'ed
and iethered that they might feed aud two little
Indian nrchins, who had followed Us, were left in
charge to see that they did NOS get through in the
weeds.
saddle bags upon bis shoulders, while the last one
we had engaged proceeded tn cnt pathway for US
through the tangled and matted underground 4
few minutes of rapid descent brought us to the bank
boulders in noisy gIee Spreading our mantles (ru-
anas) upon broad fiat rock, we brought forth the
contents Of the sad lie bags. Boston crackers and
Goshen cheese, washed down with ! ing draughts OF
the sparkling water, formed, with few sandwiches
our breakfast, which was crowned with cup of
chocolate we made with the help OF spirit lamp
Thus fortified, We commenced to az end the bed
the liver. We were able to proceed few hundred
yarcs, leaping ard climbing from rock to rock
when suddenly we. came upon small whirl
pool, where bend brought the stream
dashing against the foot of q precipice, which l
had worn away until it formed %sa cavern beyond
wsy was to climb along the face OF the precipice to
the other side OF the Whirlpool about quarter of
mile; and we proceeded at once to ascend. He led
the way, cutting path through the tangled grasses
and moss covering the face Of the rock, AMI we fol-
lowed, supporting ourselves more by orr hands and
arms than by our feet. Climbing and clinging, we
kept on, stopping every few minutes to rest for the
labor and fatigue were very great, and had gained
some fifty or sixty yards in ascent and perhaps an
eighth of mile in advance, when the guide told us
he could go no farther. The path could only be cut
BY relays OF fresh men, and the distance yet to be
accomplished was far more difficult than what we
had alrerdy gained.
Lying upoa the face Of the precipice, and cling
ing to the grass and MOSES whose scanty roots in
port above the mad and whisking river Judge g.
and myself consulted for a fe~ minutes upon the
best course to he pursued. If we could possibly
gain the other bank Of the bids, which were here
only about twenty yards broad, might get beyond
the whirlpool, and there was some chance that we
might get on, though the guide assured Us we should
have to recross at once, as the opposite bank was
much more difficult thaxthe one we were on. As
few yards further on the course we were pursuing,
we decided TO try our chance In the river. Descend
ing again to the bottom, we examined carefully the
river for long distance, and finally stripping to
orr drawers took to the water. The rush
Of water over the rounded and slippery rocks that
formed its bed made our footing very insecure, and
at times we would stand upora roundhead with the
stream running just over our ankles, when suddenly
VIC Nouiu pS PlCClpitutcu w oui d.upltS, huoCh-
ing our ribs and legs agains. the 70 ks in a most
dsagreeable way; then broad deep fall in which
We could neither wade nor swim. would stop and
tuin us to some other side; and often large rocks
which we could neither climb over round, would
stop all progress After ne lrly an hours toll and
some pretty bruises, We were forced to give
up our attempt. This was annoying but there was
10 help tor it We had not been able to get more
men to assist us, and without them could not so
on. Every limb and muscle in our bodies ached
with our climbing and straining as :hongh we had
been beaten with clubs We determined, there
lore to return by the road We had come, aud view
the falls the next day from the usual visiting place
above.
1t was late at night when we reached the village
of Soacha, the only place where could sleep, and
Ne were tired and sore with our labors and long
from the falls, but is the only place where tn vsi.er
can stop, as the owner of the hacienda in which
they lie is very churish and much opposed to pc,
pies visiting them. He refuses to let any one rc
main at his estate or to allow any building to be
put Up for their accommodation near them, and
they are thus driven to this miserable Indian village.
This gentleman is son oil General Urdaneta, Of
Eogcts, and claims to belong to the best society
here. am glad to say that his own countrynen
condemn his iiiiberal and unwor by conduc. as
much as do strangers 1t il to be hoped that his
lands may pass into the possession Of some one who
this sublime and beautiftl objest. '''' - N'''
We started early in the morning on our gallop to
the falls in order to them before the day nsts
that rise before ION shouli have shroGded them in
cluuds and rainbows. Crossing the river at place
where its singular wndings can only be compared
to bow knot, we rode over rounded hill that Sc
paiates the little valley from the great plain oc Be-
gotta. Towards the plain this hill is singularly bare
of trees and vegetation but Immediately beyond the
summit its sides clothed with beautiful forest
fed by the mists of Teqaendamar. After descend
ing for nearly half an hour, by pleasant winding
road, we came to small oval grass plat, about
twenty yards long, beyond which our horses could
not go.
Here we could hear the rushing of the waters
over the rapids before the fall, but there was no
roaring to til that we were close to the wonder
itself. serpentine footpath, descending about
fifty yards through thick brushwOod that shut out the
view brought us to the very verge of the fall. When
We GJst looked upon it the rush Of WATERS not
six yards from US. There was no mighty mass to
surprise the beholder with sense of W ,ndrous
power, but gentle beauty pervaded the scene, and
seemed to wrap the gazer in its charms. The river,
scanty in its wonted wealth Of water, from the
long continuance Of the dry season, came tumbliag
noisily along over large masses of rock that formed
its Led, and taking short preparatory leap of
few feet TO fat juttiDg ledge Of rock glded over
it's edge and "sank in silence to sunless sea-"
The great depth of the chasm into which it falls
$3.50 feeD and the well like sides of the precipice,
SO shut in the sound that the dashing below is
scarcely perceptible.
We went on to the ledge that forms the bed Of
the river when it is full, and which is completely
worn into holes three or four feet deep, and about
of these, that was formed OF the very side of the
present stream, VIC could look over the fall With
perfect safety into the depths below. The mist was
already gathering about its foot but had not yet
risen high enough to catch the sunlight, and we
saw no rainbows, but the scene below compensated
for their absence From the small cloud OF mist
little stream of water seemed to run, meandering
with dreamy motion ever small pebbles and on its
margin diminutive shrubs shot mp from the messy
bank, while Dultndes Of screaming parrots whirled
up and down the abyss, now catching green and
golden CLEAN. as nearer to US they met the
sunlight and and now Nv xh,irlins away into ;..,a
stream was the foaming torrcni that had so i'll
treated US yesterday seeming pebbles were mighty
toulders and the MOSES and shrubs the forests
and towering palms Of the tropical climate beneath.
So great is the difference OF temperature between
the top and the bottom Of the fall that the tropical
plants, growing with such luxuriance below cannot
live at the top, and those warm-cotored parrots
never fly so high as the cold verge Of the cataract
Leaving this scene we walked about hundred
and fifty yards along stumbling path beneath the
b ushwood from the fall to spot called I" the bal.