Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-05-11
A Turkish watch-rower.

A little below Moldava the ssBabakai'
rock rises from the head of the river, about
the middle of the stream; and standing
upon its high platform is watch tower,
connected with which is also very sad le-
gend--but then you must remember that it
is only a 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 By the Agas Janissaries, who led her
to the Babakai rock to be put to death.
Her spirit was often seen wandering over
the RUNS of the old tower and leaping over
the cataracis. But steam navigation, with
other marks Of progressive civilization,
have dissipated forever these silly Turkish
stories. After passing this rock the shores
close in again with granite cliffs on one
side and lovely green hills on the other.
On the right bank are seen the beautiful
ruins of Castle Columbacs-in Turkish.
ogerdschinik-which was the key of the
navigation of that section of the Danube as
far as the Ircn Gate. The Iron Gates of
the Danube are not iron, but continuation
ofrocks and heavy boulders that obstruct
the channel by nearly closing In some
places, causing powerful eddies and i'm
mense whirlpools, that make it a very
difficult and dangerous passage to navigate.
SoUn after leaving Columbacs the steamer
clears the first in the numerous rapids
which, as far as the Turn SEVERN, form
quite series of natural impediments; and
the high pointed rocks that loom up every
where must be passed with great caution.
As soon as these rapids are crossed and We
have rounded giant rock on the edge of
sharp prOmontory, the river expands until
it forms quite an inland sea-calm and
smooth-until you near the famous passage
called 'Greben." Then on both shores rise
abruptly two tremendous walls of rock,
with lefty peaks and precipltous inelines-
showing mighty cracks and rents like the
cyclopean gunwales of volcanic citadel.
Hanging boldly over the waters edge, they
seem ready to pounce upon the river and
gulp it 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, on 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 Trecule you reach the imposing en-
trance of the Kasam Pass-the grandest
and most remarkable sight on the Danube.
The stream here-as if driven by some un-
accountable ppwer-cramped in space
of about two hundred yards, rushes with a
violent roar of despair into natural pas
sage, which resembles breach made by
giants through wall of lofty rocks, and
for nearly half a mile 1t rolls its groaning
waves over granite bed two hundred feet
deep, bounding and leaping, striking and
lashing the obstructing enemy with its
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 convulsive
moan Of the rushing stream, gives an
aspect of indescribable granduer and
frightful beauty, and the whole scene is 50
impressive that it can never be forgotten.