p. 4

-789-

1849.

In this respect we were very fortunate as we were able to find a man who was willing to paddle us up through the gorge in a small boat. When the water is high (about 15 feet above its present level) the narrowness of the passage causes it to rise and rush through with great force and velocity. At such times it would be impossible to ascend with a boat. The constant flow of the water has worn away the rocks on each side so that the river is wider at the water level than a little higher up. The width of the gorge in the narrowest place is about fifty feet, so that the story recorded on some old maps that one could jump across it, is without foundation in truth. At this place a bridge is contemplated for which a charter has been granted by the Legislature of the State. The general width may be stated at from 50 to 100 feet.

It is related that a stick of timber 32 feet long was slid down the hill and precipitated over the bluff endwise into the water; that it went down and remained for some time out of sight, such is the great depth of water. It may be supposed to be fifty feet deep.

The Dells may be considered as extending from near the mouth of the Lemonweir, ten miles above the "Dell House" to the mouth of Dell Creek, four miles below, having therefore a length of about fourteen miles. Lost of the way the gorge is not so narrow as at the point visited by us.

As we paddled along against the current we occasionally crossed from one side to the other to take a vantage of eddies and places where the water ran less swiftly. When passing some points of rock the force of three paddles was required to stem the rapid current. One guide at one place directed the boat into an opening in the cliff, just sufficiently large to admit us; we passed for