The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-21
Or the music Of evening chimes,
That falls on the ear and charms II,
Like the closing Of sweetest rhymes

Up above us the high rocks lowered,
steep and rugged and bare; it was wild
enough to be grand, and the contrast made
the falls seem more beautiful. A sudden
turn and before we knew it we were stand
ing beneath the singing waters. with their
cold spray in our faces. You who write of
picturesque America" no longer consign
our State TO the tender mercies of cowboys
for due appreciation Of its beauties; in the
/. future give these falls place among your
natural scenery, and they alone will redeem
Texas in the eyes of lovers of the beautiful.
The falls of Talluhah and Tacoa are far
famed, but they are excelled in loneliness
by these unknown, unappreciated falls away
OF on the Colorado, which have had but
Is few words spoken in their praise, and but
few visitors to speak them. Over bluff,
one hundred and thirty feet in
height, there comes, laughing, dancing
down, sheet after sheet of brightly tinted
waters looking like veil of dewdrops fall
ing over rainbow. The cliff leans far
3 over, so that the water dsshing from Its
heights forms network of water. behind
which tbs delicate maiden's hair fern clings
In profusion to the rocks and bowers and
walks OF greenest moss grow luxuriantly.
At the base Of the bluff is tiny lake, blue
a. the sky above Il, its bosom ever ruffled
by the waters which come hurTying, surg
ing down and then rest calmly in the azure
depths like tired children asleep in sum
mertime. II is framed in mssses, ferns and
water-cresses, which look slyly over into
the lake to see their mirrored forms. The
hrst fall lie somewhat different from the
rest. Instead of being a long, floating web
OF water, 1t is succession of cataracts,
falling over one iutting rock, then leapinR
30 as.1 h.. a ali
until meeting the fate of all IL pours into
the lake. From the highest point of the
bluff there comes pouring down g long and
slender stream, which falls not in the lake
but on Q rock, so red that when the water
touches Il the drops seem turned to blood.
? There Is an Indian legend connected with
this rock, very pretty and very romantic,
q Indian tales always are, but too long to
DO repeated here. Behind the falls is
tiny cavern. The walls of this grotto are
covered with the most beautiful specimens
OF petrided MOSES and ferns, tinted with
pink and green. Il looks like miniature
palace, and feel sure Queen Nab could
ind no filter abiding place than the Gave
<of the Fairies, " as We had named il. There
were some Of US barbArians enough to dis
turb the fairies home, for We carried OF
large specimens Of the petri6ed moss
~ tTopnltS OF our visit and
memorials of the ''Falls of Wekamama y
We have heard Of the story of KING Midas
aud bis touch that turned to gold, but
these waters seem to possess the power of
turning all they touch to stone; Hugh Mil
stCr IN his s'Sohool and Schoolmasters'' gives
q description Of the "Dorcot caves" which
resemble In many respects this gro,to be-
hind the falls, which il was our fate TO en-
plorci the water is impregnated with cal
careo0s matter, and all that 10 falls upon
petriies. The delicate ferns and dainty
moss.eups, once green and living, are cling
ing there, and the ruling passion strong
IN death, still point outwards TO light ana
life. though they have lost their vefdant
hues and are white ard hard az the coral Of |
the Indian ocean. From above the slender
staiactites, liiy-like in their purity, hang
lihB SNOWY monumental fafF