Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-06

gate this nature-cure without delay.
points the Rain Forest creeps with drip
to the very verge OF the precipice. In
other places wet and slippery rocks sub
stitute themselves for vegetation at the
edge Of the chasm. A hard. we'll made
ing the falls canyon and only q short dis
lance from 1t. and frequent branches
lead from this main footpath to those
points at the edge of the precipice from
which especially fine views may be OBJ
tanned. For most of the way one may
follow the precipce edge and disregard
the path, If the wind and spray permit
In any event u vis;. to the Rain Forest
drenchlng to the skin in spite of water
proofs and umbrellas; but in some con-
ditions OF wind and spray no glimpse
whatever OF the falls can be had from
many fine viewpoints on the canyons
edge in the binding whrl of water and
air. In this case the visitor keeps to the
footpath, with tentative excursions at in
tervals to points on the edge OF the
precipice.
My visit to the falls was made at low
water (September). and whatever Is said
by me applies to conditions at the end OF
the dry season. Victoria Falls, with the
Zambesi in flood impress the observer
more deeply with the sense of tremendous
power than when the water is low. but to
counterbalance this advantage is the loss
at flood time of most of the opportunities
to see the falls and canyon at all. the
spray which at low water mildly drenches
the visitor to the Rain Forest at flood
time buffets and blinds him, and drives
him away dissatisfied. The whole of the
falls chasm is then so filled with dense
spray, driven by furious gusts OF wind.
that observation and study OF the falls
and chasm become practically impossible.
AT that time one cannot cross the rapids
above the falls to Livingstone Island,
which at the verge OF the precipice seDa-
rates the Main Fall from Rainbow Falls.
much as Goat Island separates the Amer
lean and Horseshoe Falls Of the Niagara.
From this island Livingstone caught his
first glimpse of the falls. and to the Wis
itor in the dry season 1t supplies one OF
the most interesting and striking OF view
points.
To have complete understanding OF
the falls one should study them at the dry
season, when they can be seen, and Wis I
them again with the river in flood to get
an adequate idea Of the Zambesis volume
and power as it flows into the chasm
But If one can be here only once, he
should come in the dry season. Both of
Livingstones visits here were made when
the water was low November, 1855, and
August. 1880. The next famous visitor.
Thomas Baines, the artist and explorer.
who sketched and described the falls
from the Rain Forest in 1862. was also
here In the dry season tJuly.
Panoramic Motion Picture Of Falls.
AS one cannot get general view of the
face of the whole falls 1t is impossible
to photograph it except in sections. and
photographing, like sketching. is done I'M
der difficulties. on account of the showers
of spray which sweep frequently and I'M
expectedly over the viewpoints.
The situation calls for a carefully pre-
1T II.
shall cause to pass before the observer
the various and varied sections of the
falling Zambesi and the islands and
rocks which separate the masses of fall
ing water, just they are seen one
walks slowly along the edge OF the preci-
pce from the west end of the canyon to
Danger Point, where the iSsure OF the
outlet gorge calls halt: then from the
promontory on the other side Of the outlet
gorge over the Knife Edge to the eastern
end of the canyon; and then the moving
picture will be extended to show the OPP
posite wall Of the falls chasm as seen
from various points on Livingstone and
Cataract Islands. Nothing more beauti-
full can be conceived than this series Of
views.
is had up the canyon from a rustic seat
under a matched roof looking down on
Devils Cascade, the precipice of Cataract
Island and q section of the Main Fall on
the Rain Forest on the right. and direct
~ in front the chasm. One sees the
white and surging waters at It's bottom
rushing down the rocky masses Of debris
which make the west end Of the canyon
It's shallowest part and disappearing in the
spray and luminous m st which hide half
of the Main Fall from sight. One gets the
same scenic elements arranged at a dn-
ferent angle from the view which is en-
joyed when one scrambles over wet and
slippery rocks to a projecting ledge at
the very edge OF Devils Cascade, little
lower than the beginning Of it's fall.
Whether thus seen from the side or from
the front at the beginning of the Rain
Forest the Devils Cascade Is one of the
most picturesque sections Of the falling
Zambesl. OF all the falls 1t has the
smallest vertical drop. rock debris being
collected In the canyon at Its foot, and its
descent beginning some distance before
the lip of the precipice Is reached. thus
reducing its sheer fall to 26O feet. but
compromising 1t with fine rapids above
the falls which the other sections Of the
Zambesi lack, and causing 1t to rush
foaming and laundering to the chasm
and leap far out into 1t in contrast with
the languid glide of the bulk Of the river
lust above the falls.
The Cascade. at the point where is
drop begins. seems to break suddenly
into millions Of white particles, which
fly eccentrically in every direction,
sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight
Main Fall Of Victoria.
The next striking view is from the
Rain Forest opposite Cataract Island.
which is here seen as a vertical cliff
projecting at its base. broken into two
parts by a deep chasm and crowned by
the dark green of trees and long grasses
wet with spray. From this point we see
in one direction the Devils Cascade, and
in the other We enjoy the best general
view of the Main Fall. This fall. as
seen from here. when the wind blows
the spray away, is a magnificent spec
tacle, even at this season of low water
when the fall, instead of dropping IN
continuous unbroken mass. as in flood, Is
divided into several sections by narrow
lodges of rock jutting out at the edge
of the precipice. First next to Cataract
Island is very broad fall. with band
Of green at the edge OF the chasm, in
dicating depth; then two small white
falls; then the broadcast. deepest section
Of the Main Fall, q band OF green in
mass OF dazzling whiteness; then after a
black mass of rock at the lip OF
the fall the two cascades next to Living
stone Island, one a fine fall shooting
Ear out into the canyon. the other split
up by rocks into several sections.
There is no difficulty in Identifying this
von r.