THE CATARACT OF MAYPURES. 155

desire (thirst) of the antelope, in allusion to those
tracts destitute of vegetation, which appear like
large lakes, with an undulating surface. We ad-
mire the frequent allusions in the Indian, Persian,
and Arabic poets to the magical effects of terres-
trial refraction. It was scarcely known to the
Greeks and Romans. Proud of the riches of their
soul, and the mild temperature of the air, they
would have felt no envy of this poetry of the de-
sert. It was born in Asia. The Oriental poets
found its source in the nature of the country they
inhabited ; they were inspired by the aspect of
those vast solitudes, interposed like arms of the
sea or gulfs between lands adorned by Nature with
her most luxuriant fertility.”

One only additional quotation must suffice us.
It depicts the emotions of M. Humboldt at sight
of the Cataract of Maypures :—

“We were never weary of the view of this
astonishing spectacle, concealed in one of the most
remote corners of the earth. Arrived at the sum-
mit of a granitic ridge that rises from the Savannah,
the eye suddenly takes in a sheet of foam extend-
ing a whole mile. Enormous masses of stone, black
as Iron, issue from its bosom. Some are grouped
in pairs like basaltic hills, others resemble towers,
strong castles, and ruined buildings. Their gloomy
tint contrasts with the silvery splendour of the