THE UPPER POOLS. 87 cipice overhanging the aforesaid pool. There were said to be two more pools above the lower one, communicating with each other, and these were easily found ; that is to say, I saw down into them from above, but did not see how to get at them, since they lay at the bottom of the usual perpendicular rocks. However, after much difficulty and sliding about, I got down to the upper one ; even then the water lay so far below me, I could hardly dip my cup into it, but when I did reach it the drink was over and above sufficient reward for the climb. The middle pool had now to be reached by a steep sort of narrow channel through the rock. I shoved myself in, legs foremost, and immediately slid down about ten yards, being only brought up short by clinging to the rock on either side. The bed of the channel was as slippery as ice, owing to the friction from the torrents that pour through during the rainy season, and the passage itself terminated abruptly five feet above the pool. By dint of digging my toes into a crack or two, I succeeded in standing up in comfort. What a beautiful sight it was !