The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-19
A Turkish watch Tower.

A little below Moldava the "Babakai"
rock rises from the head Of the river, about
the middle Of the stream; and standing
upon it's high platform is Watch tower,
connected with which is also;s very sad le-
gend--but then you must remember that
1t Is only legend. At one timc-so the
story goes-s very handsome Turkish
maiden, having run away with gallant
Hungarian knight, was overtakcn and
brought back by the Aga's Janissarlcs, who
led her to the Babakai rock to be put to
death. Her spirit was often seen wander
ing over the ruins of thep old tower and
leaping over the cataracts, 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 arc seen the
beautiful ruins of Castle Coumbacs-.-in
Turkish, Gogerdschink-which was the
key Of the navigation of that section of the
Danube rs far as the Iron Gate. The Iron
Gates of the Danube are not iron, but a
continuation Of rocks and heavy boulGcrs
that obstruct the channel by nearly closing
1t in some places, causing powerful cddlcs
"'N ihihShoO "hiiIpOoo, tiat ll}thC IL
difficult and dang rous passage to navigate.
Soon after leaving Colubacs the steamer
clears the first in the numerous rapids
which, as faras the Turn SEVERN, form
quite series Of natural impedlmcnts; and
the high pointed rocks that loom up every
where must be passed with great caution.
AS soon as these rapids arc crossed aud we
have rounded a giant rock on the edge of
a nlkn I'm,
til it forms quite an island sca-calm and
smooth-until you near the famous passage
called 'Grcbcn." Then on both shores
rise abruptly two tremendous walls OF rock,
with lofty peaks and precipitous inclincs.-
showing mighty cracks and rents like the
cyclopean gunwalcs of u volcanic citadel.
Hanging boldly over the waters edge, they
seem ready TO pounce upon the river and
gulp 1t up in one supreme, herculcan
draught. But our steamer is equal 10 the
task and runs through tue narrow pass
and comes out into broader water unharm-
ed and ready for another trial. A few miles
further down the stream, on the left shore,
we pass lrccule, which appears to have
been one OF the eliminating points of Ro-
man domination in these parts, and direct
ly after Trecule you reach the imposing
entrance of the Kasam Pass the grandest
and most remarkable sight on the Danube.
The stream lerc-as If driven by some I'M
accountable power-cramped in space of
about two hundred yards, rushcs with u
violent roar Of despair into natural pus-
sage, which resembles u breach made by
giants through a wall of lofty rocks, and
for nearly half d mile il rolls its groanlng
waves over granite bed two hundred feet
deep bounding and leaping, striking and
lashing the obslructing enemy with its
mighty breakers and si,ilnAc.ir" array
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 convulsivc
moan OF the rushing stream, gives I'm as
pect Of indescrible grandeur and frightful
beauty, and the whole scene is 80 impress
sive that 1t can never be forgotten.