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202 All at once, and without any warning, from the appearance of the adjacent surface, that we were approaching the wonderful, we found ourselves on the brink of the sunk Poroporia Valley. The scene was indeed impressive, rendered doubly so by the suddenness with which it burst upon the view. Towards the right the valley gradually rose in the direction of the distant mountains, but towards the left, as far as we could see, it curved in and out till lost in a haze of blue. The walls, which were composed of different varieties of beautiful stone, were perpendicular in many places for thousands of feet. Their numerous colours glittered in the soft sunlight, and formed a singular contrast to the portions darkened by shade. Numerous streams of clear water poured over ledges and terraces to join the mightier torrent beneath. This river widened out in several places, forming small silent lakes, with roaring cataracts between them.

The spectacle was stupendous, and for a time banished all other thoughts. Although all the members of our company, myself excepted, had on previous occasions visited this wonderful depression, yet they stood and admired as if they had never seen it before.

"I am not surprised," I said, addressing