Year: 1873

Some years ago I resided for short


time in the Island Of 81 Domingo, in
the West Indies. The weather was so
hot while | was there that bathing vas
a great luxury, but as saarks made it
dangerous to bathe in the aea, 7 inqair-
ed Of the landlord of the hotel if there
were not a river near the town. 0


There is very fine ri7er, said he,


just over that range of lofty hills;
but it is good distance by the road,
and you would find the walk very hot
and dusty 1g saas tsl i11aaai


''But what hinders my going over
tie hills and making short cut p


Why, they are so steep on the side
facing the river that you could not get
down without breaking your neck, sir,p
he replied, rather bluntly.


20, nonsenseI" | said II should
like to see the hill--I could roll down
at any rate" And away / bounded,
and soon reached the top of the near
est hill, from which / spied the beau
tiful river, broad and deep, dancing
along and glittering in the beams Of
the rising sun. The sight of the cool
stream created in me such thirst 10
be swimming in it, that | began to de-
scend without being at all particular
to pick my steps. had not got down
more than twenty yards from the brow
of the hill, and that with much diff
Guilty, when l found il impossible to
proceed another step, for the precipice
below me was almost as flat and steep
as the side Of house, and some two
or three hundred feet in depth. / had
gone so heedlessly into danger that
the narrow ledge upon which / rested
was not broad enough to admit of my
two feet abreast, and | was obliged to
place one foot behind the other. and
lean my body against the side of the
hill. This painful position redered it
impossible for me to lift one leg to en-
deavor to gain footing above me, for
| felt if attempted TO do so the other
foot would slip off the ledge, and /
must inevitably fall to the bottom
The road at the foot of the bill, which
ran along the bank of the river, was
thronged with negroes going 20 market
with fruit and wood from the noun
tains, and so soon as they observed my
danger. they gathered together in great
numbers and began to shout to me. l
could not understand what they said,
but the sight of host of black people
all shouting in great excitement had
such an effect upon rae, as gazed up
on them from my ledge, that my knees
began to tremble, my eyes became con-
fused, and | felt that it would be re-
lief to plunge off right into the midst
of them. / cannot describe this IRE
sistible impulse, and as il grew stron-
ger and more urgent upon me, / cast
my eyes upwards and felt some relief.


And here it may be well to remark,
in passing, that in all positions of dan
ger from being on "giddy height,
the danger is greatly increased whilst
the eyes are turned dOwnwards on the
objects beneath US, and relief is gained
by looking up to the sky.


In thus looking up, saw, at about
three feet above my head, the stump
of an old tree, OF probably large
shrub; it was sticking out about two
feet from the bank, and was jagged at
its extremity. as if it had been broken
off. In my desperation, resolved to
make a spring at it; if | caught it with
my right hand, and it was not too rot
ten to bear my weight, | knew could
draw my body up to it and get my
knee upon it for if a sailor can get
hand hold he troubles himself little
about his body; it may swing over an
abyss miles in depth, and it gives him
no concern, because, with his hands
secure, he does as he plesses with the
whole of his person. Then reasoned,
if missed it could but fall, aud
every moment convinced me could
not remain where | was much longer;
consequently, gathering myself up, |
made a spring, and caught it, and as L
drew my body up and lodged my knee
upon it, cheer arose from the multi
tude below like the noise of many
waters" In few minutes more i
gained the brow of the hill, and turn
ing round, | waved my hat, and re-
turned the cheer of the sable crowd.