CHAPTER II.
THE ZAMBEZI BELOW THE VICTORIA FALLS.
I have mentioned that the Zambezi throws its waters into a deep, rocky trough. The falls therefore differ from many other cataracts, in not flowing into a plain or valley.
The river precipitated in the rocky trough joins the tumultuous waters below, which flow from here through a deep ravine for many, many miles before the country declines and the steep banky lower themselves to a similar appearance to that presented above the falls. If the Victoria Falls are looked upon as a wonderful phenomenon, the flowing off of the waters deserves equal admiration.
Some thousands of years ago, when by the geologic changes of the earth in this zone the rocky trough of the cataract was torn open, the immense narrow defile must also have been formed through which the waters of the Zambezi now flow off. I cannot say that this ravine was opened hy gradual excavation caused by water, for its immorable walls may be said to have originated thousands of years ago, for nothing can now be traced of the rolling off, sinking, or sudden descent of these huge rocks. If I say that the flowing off of the Zambezi is worthy of admiration, I do so for a double reason. I allude to the scenery which here presents itself to the eye, and to the circumstance, how it is possible that the Zambezi so expanded at the fall that the volume of water prcipitated over the steep, rocky wall, can flow off in so narrow a defile.
The water when flowing out of the rocky trough passes a kind of narrow poort as high as the south bank of the river, and from here, as far as I could observe, into a ravine, which only widens at few places, especially where steep defiles wind between.
The ravine may be traced thus: From A southern direction, about three hundred yards from the poort, it suddenly turns westsouth-west, and about one thousand steps further on an acute angle changes to the south-east for about one thousand one hundred yards, then turns to the south for a short distance, and again in the form of an acute angle changes to a south-western direction for about one thousand two hundred yards, then winds again its path
