The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-26
A Turkish VVatch-Tower.

A little below Moldava the ssBabakai''
| rock rises from the head Of the river, about
the mlddle OF the stream; and standing
upon It's hlgh platform is watch tower
connected with which is also very sad lc-
genu-'Dut then you must remember that it
! ls only legend. At one time-so the
story goes-a very handsome Turkish mai
den, having run away with gallant Hun
garian knight, was overtaken and brought
BACK ~ the Agas Janissaries, who led her
70 tho Babakal rock to be put to death.
ier spirit was often seen wandering over
tho ruins Of the old tower and leaping over
tho cataracts But steam navigation, with
other marks Of progressive civilization,
nave dlsslpated forever these silly Turkish
stories. After passing this rock the shores
close Ill again with granite cliffs on one
side and lovely green hills on the other.
On the right bank are sccn the beautiful
ruins OF Castlo Columbacs-in Turkish,
gerdschinik--which was the key of the
navigation Of that section of tho Danube as
far as the Iron Gate. The Iron Gates of
the Danube are not iron, but continuation
OF rocks and heavy boulders that obstruct
the channel by nearly closing III some
places, causing powerful cddies and I'M
mense whirlpools, that make it a very
difficult and dangerous passage to navigate.
Soon after leaving Columbacs the steamer
clears the first ia the numerous RAPIDS
which, as fur rs the Turn SEVERN, form
quite series Of natural impcdmcnts and
the high pointed rJCks that loom up every
where must he passed with great caution
AS soon as these rapids arc crossed and we
have rounded u giant rock OH the edge of
sharp promontory, tho river expands until
1t formB quite an inland sea-calm and
smooth-until you near the famous passage
callod "Greben." Then on both shores rise
abruptly two tremendous walls of rock,
with lefty peaks and prccipltous inelincs-
showing mighty cracks and rents like the
cyclopcan gunwalCs of volcanic citadel.
Hanging boldly over the waters edge, they
seem ready to pounce upon the river and
gulp 1t up in one supreme, herculean
draught. But our steamer is equal to the
task and runs through the narrow pass and
comes out into broader water unharmed
and ready for another trial. A few miles
further down the stream, Oh the left shore,
we pass Trecule, which appears to have
been one of the eliminating points of Ro.
man domination in these parts, and directly
after Trccule you reach the imposing en-
trance of the Kasam Pass--thc grandest
and most remarkable sight on The Danube.
The stream here-as if driven by some un-
accountable pDwcr-crampcd in space
OF about two hundred yards, rushcs with
violent roar of despair into natural pas
sago, which resembles breach made by
giants through wall of lofty rocks, and
for nearly half mile 1t rolls its grooming
waves over granite bed two hundred feet
deep, bounding and leaping, striking and
lashing tho obntruoting enemy with ito
mighty breakers and shimmering spray.
The comparative darkness, owing to the
height Of the hideous cliffs, which hem in
the narrow channel, and the mysterious
stiffness, broken only by the convulsvc
moan of the rushing stream, gives an
aspect of indescribablc granduer and
frightful beauty, and the whole scene is 80
impressive that it can never be forgotten.