A MAJESTIC CATARACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 73

A MAJESTIC CATARACT.

(By a Bakkeb ) The Victoria Falls of the Zambesi (judgirg from a series of lar^e coloured views which the wruci- pcs&ooscs) n_ay well &ti.ks ths amazed b=hoider with av.-e and with bewldered fascination as he gazes, spell-bound, at the majestic grar.dcur, the overwks.mirg subliniily, and the state iy beauty and splcnocur of this stupendous and magnificent handiwork of Nature. Approaching the Falls, the first thing which attiacts the travellers attent.on, apart from the dull, snlien roai, which may bs heard many miles awaj', is ths beautiful series of pure white spray-cloiids, using 120Qfi, in the a.r, resembling, thcugh of couise on a far larger scale, the great columns of spray raised by ths projectile of a heavy gun as it first strikes the watei. Arrived ?.t tae brink of the vast cha;m, the spectacle must be positively overpowering. The great, river is taking a tiemendous plunge sheer over a precipice considerab'y moro than twice the hsJghc of m.ghty Niagaia — (the former is 403 ft high, the latter 169ft)— at fiist a gieat curling wave ot deep emerald green, so soon however bioken up into surging breakers, which with maddened loai sweep downwards into the seething obyes far below. Here the cataract striken a jutting rock, which hurls a whirling torrent high in the air, breaking it up into foam and surf, soon to mingle ogam with the eddying, watery tornado; heio an unseen piojection beneath the waters deflects the flood, raising swelling, foam-crested billows, winch throw off wisps of frothy spindrift as they again commingle with tEo falling deluge; ard hare, in contrast to the sound and fuiy of the surrounding ficod a placid stieam of -water gefctly issues fioro a fissure in a projecting buff in ihe rocky chasm. But ths convulsed ;unnoi! of the yawning cauldron beneath utterly defies descuption. It is a very orgasm of fury, a w.ld, raging chaos; a tempestuous hurricane of whirhrg surge and hurtling, wind-tom foam. And surroiitiding all this agitated turmoil Nature has with lavish hand created a very paradise of beauty. Tall pa:m? wuh wfvmg feathery fionds, tropical shiubs covered with lci.g upstanding spikes of gieat sea" let Powers, graceful cyeas, hand ~-o ine amnij and b:i'Ji;nt oichids and other gorgeous fioifl decoraticn? of that favou'.ed clinic, all coii-b.i^ing to b^rutify a::d io aclorn t' i= amazing wonder of nature. Ard as the sun smks towards the hcr.r.or. the snow-vhit<? cr..ory of &pi?y is ti::g'd ;: lovely ro=e-pink. <he shadows of f':e utysmal gorge deepea. ar.d a bnLi°nt raiubow rrches over the whole, a tokea of pf^ico cverh.i "ji'ig the contenujn^ luain't benea'h And to with ouicelves E-^aqcd m all tLe ferment and all the tui moil of t'n? lifs, if W3 look upv.'ards to the sk,PS we nipy receive a token of etern il peace. For He who bore cur sins is willuife to give no His peace and to pre-

pare for U3 o/ie of those- heavenly mau-ic's reserved for those who love and truly servo Him.