. In & around the Grand Canyon; the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in Arizona . em to have beenformed by slow accumulation in the former bed ofthe stream. Oftentimes they were directly in thecourse of the creek, which has washed through themand formed walls on either side through which wepass, fifty, a hundred, and even more feet high, thusshowing the power of the occasional torrents whichdisturb this now quiet and dry ravine. The ravine soon cuts into the red sandstone, andrapidly we drop into it, leaving the gray walls, tobe immediately hemmed in by the red. What achange of scenerv in a
. In & around the Grand Canyon; the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in Arizona . em to have beenformed by slow accumulation in the former bed ofthe stream. Oftentimes they were directly in thecourse of the creek, which has washed through themand formed walls on either side through which wepass, fifty, a hundred, and even more feet high, thusshowing the power of the occasional torrents whichdisturb this now quiet and dry ravine. The ravine soon cuts into the red sandstone, andrapidly we drop into it, leaving the gray walls, tobe immediately hemmed in by the red. What achange of scenerv in a few minutes! These wallshave marked stratification, and, as the erosion hascut down the rock, it has left terraces, revealing thelamination. These terraces are of varying sizes THE GRAND CANYON 263 and widths, and as we go lower and lower they arecrowned with all the fantastic forms and figuresthat one can conceive. This w^ould have been aperfect treasure ground of suggestions for the medi-aeval sculptors who wanted hideous forms for gar-goyles for their churches and Overhanging Capitals on the Topocobya Trail. Now the canyon narrows, and all the loosepebbles and sand have been washed away. We areriding on the solid sandstone on a narrow ledge orshelf, and here, to the right, below us, the rock isscooped out into a series of rudely oblong water-pockets or bath-tubs, in which, after a rain or flood,water is always to be found. Now we descend from our shelf, by using therock terraces as a stairway, back again to the bed 264 IN AND AROUND of the stream. A trail horse is no more concernedabout walking down or up these stairs, with a twohundred pound man upon his back, than a porteris concerned at carrying a ten-pound valise up aflight of stairs. Let their bridles hang,— dont attempt to guideor control them. They understand their businessand know the way far better than you. Keepyour seat and enjoy the rugged picturesqueness ofthe scenery. They will do the rest in saf
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