This celebrated river, through its long and fertile range of about two
thousand British miles, in winding through abrupt and precipitous
countries, exhibits very considerable cataracts, ten or twelve of which,
having a descent of more than twenty feet, occur, before it reaches the
level of Egypt. The one which, by way of eminence, is called the
cataract of the Nile, was visited by Mr. Bruce, from whose relation the
following particulars are extracted.
At the distance of half a mile beneath the cataract, the river is
confined between two rocks, over which a strong bridge of a single arch
has been thrown, and runs into a deep trough, with great roaring, and an
impetuous velocity. On ascending, the cataract presents itself amid
groves of beautiful trees, and exhibits a most magnificent and
stupendous sight, such as, Mr. Bruce observes, ages, added to the
greatest length of human life, could not efface or eradicate from his
memory. It struck him with a kind of stupor, and total oblivion of where
he was, as well as of every sublunary concern. At the time of his visit,
the river had been considerably increased by rains, and fell in one
sheet of water, above half an English mile in breadth, and to the depth
of at least forty feet, with a force and noise which were truly
terrific, and which, for a time, stunned him, and made him giddy. A
thick fume, or haze, covered the fall in every part, and hung over the
course of the stream both above and below, marking its track, although
the waters were not seen. The river, although much swollen, preserved
its natural clearness, and fell, partly into a deep pool, or basin, in
the solid rock, and partly in twenty different eddies to the very foot
of the precipice. In falling, a portion of the stream appeared to run
back with great fury on the rock, as well as forward in the line of its
course, raising waves, or violent ebullitions, which chafed against each
other.