jealousies of fame. It carries with it an influence which always tells; for it is the result of proud honor, rectitude, and consistency, qualities which, perhaps more than any other, command the general confidence and respect of mankind.

Smiles.

LESSON XCIX.

THE GRAND CAÑON OF THE COLORADO.

1. The region known vaguely as the "Grand Cañon of the Colorado," * is situated in the southwestern part of the United States, and is greatly celebrated for the peculiar features of its sublime scenery. Gorges, with cliffs overhanging so as to shut out the light of day; underground courses of a great river that carries the melted snows of vast mountain cisterns; great cataracts whose plunging waters make roaring music, heard on the distant mountain-summits with a thousand imaginative embellishments, these are a few that have been depicted by the enthusiastic traveler.

2. Many stories of wild adventure have been told by Indians, trappers, and prospecters, stories of walking along the brink of the cañon walls in search of a passage down to the waters, but vainly traveling for days, and then perishing of thirst in sight of the river below, which roared its mockery into dying ears.

3. Other stories are current of men who have entered the

*The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers west of the Rocky Mountains, in which it takes its rise, by two branches called the Grand and Green Rivers. These rivers unite in Utah, and thence the Colorado flows by a generally southwest course into the Gulf of California. Including Green River, its largest branch, it is about twelve hundred miles in length. Its waters assume a reddish color from the falling of the rains upon a soil of red clay; hence the name Colorado, or Colored River.

gorge only to be overwhelmed in an abyss of waters; still others of boats and boats' crews gliding down the swift river into underground passages, to be lost forever from the light. Such are the legends told in the hunter's cabin and the prospect

er's camp, away out among the mountains; and now and then these have found their way into public print.

4. Expeditions sent out by the government to explore the Colorado, and the region round about, have reported the cañon inaccessible. The traditions of the early Spanish adventurers make it a land unknown, and forever to be unknown. The Indians of the countries adjacent have woven the mysteries of it into the myths of their religion. Thus Indians and Spanish adventurers, hunters and prospecters, have all united in telling fabulous stories of its wonders and terrors.

5. From a knowledge of other cañons, I came to the belief that the Grand Cañon of the Colorado could be explored by descending the river in small boats. Accordingly, on the 24th of May, 1869, a party, consisting of nine men and myself, all experienced in the wild life of the country, set off at the junction of the Union Pacific Railroad with Green River.

6. For a few days, our way was through a river of low cañons and small green valleys, until we reached the Wintaw Mountains. Through this range the river has cut a winding channel, forming the Wintah system of cañons. Near the lower end of this series, Yampo River enters the Green by a cañon. Farther down, in a valley portion of the river, the Wintah and White come in. About thirty miles below this point, we enter still another series. Low walls of gray, buff, and rust-colored sandstone shut us in. These walls slowly increase in hight as we advance. The gray rocks are lost, dark-red sandstones appear, the walls are broken down by lateral cañons, increasing in number until we are in the heart of the "Cañon of Desolation."

7. Sometimes these lateral cañons are so crowded that the rock between them stands as a narrow wall several hundred feet high, the end toward the main cañon. Some lateral cañons have their own lateral cañons, a third series cutting the walls into sections, whose towering summits, though large

enough to support cathedrals, seem scarcely to furnish footing

for a man.

- over

8. Two thousand feet. often three thousand feet head is the summit of the walls; while rocks and crags and peaks rise higher and still higher away back from the river, until they reach an altitude of nearly five thousand feet. These rusty-gray and dark-red sandstones have no beauty of color. A few greenish-gray cedars are seen, looking, not like pyramids of evergreen spray, but like clumps of knotty war-clubs bedecked with spires; this, with a little sage, constitutes all the verdure.

9. Through Still Water Cañon, the river winds with a quiet current, as if in no haste to leave the beautiful cañon carved out of the orange sandstone. All along its walls, domed alcoves and amphitheaters have been cut out of the solid rock; grottoes and caves abound; narrow lateral cañons, channels or rivulets, born of a shower, are cut or cleft in the rocks, and at every curve on the inner side is a spot of willowbordered meadow.

Soon

10. After a few days, we rowed into Cataract Cañon. we heard the roar of waters, and came upon a succession of rocky rapids and cataracts, over some of which we were compelled to make portages. Usually only the cargoes were carried over the rocks, and the boats were let down with lines; but, now and then, boats and all had to be carried. Where these rapids or cataracts were unobstructed by rocks, or where there was any passage, we were able to run them, never finding any fall greater than nineteen feet in this cañon.

11. Sometimes the waves below would roll over a boat and fill the open part; but they could not sink it, as each one was decked fore and aft, and so had a water-tight compartment at either end. Now and then, a boat would roll over; but, clinging to its sides until they could right it, the men would swim to the shore, towing it with them. For twelve days we toiled through this cañon.

12. On the 31st of July, we reached the mouth of the San Juan, at the foot of Mound Cañon, and went into camp to rest for a day or two. Then we started again. We had now run once more into the dark-red and chocolate-colored sandstones with slate-colored beds below; these usually formed vertical walls, occasionally terraced or broken down, and from the crest of these the orange mounds sloped back, but variegated by monuments, now vertical, now terraced, now worn in steep slopes; others still combining these forms, and set with towers and pinnacles. This cañon, which is about one hundred miles long, we called Monument Cañon.

13. Other cañons succeeded, in one of which cool springs gushed from the rocks, and sparkling, foaming cascades plunged into marble fonts; and in contrast to these, after every shower, cascades of red mud poured over the walls from the red sandstone above, with a fall of hundreds of feet. We named this Marble Cañon; it terminated at the mouth of the Little Colorado, and was about thirty-six miles long.

14. From this point commenced the home-stretch; and after a variety of exciting incidents, we ended our exploration of the Grand Cañon of the Colorado, its head at the confluence of the Little Colorado, its foot at the entrance of the river in Mormon Valley, its length being about two hundred and thirty miles, its altitude from twenty-five hundred to four thousand feet, the whole region one of great scenic beauty and grandeur. J. W. Powell. (Adapted.)

WORD ANALYSIS AND DEFINITIONS.

Al' cove, a recess in a room, for books, etc.

Am phi the ́ a ter (amphi, around; theater, a place for seeing), a circular theater with seats all around an open space.

Lat' er al (later, the side), on the side.

Port' age (port, carry), a carrying; a place where goods are carried from one body of water to another.

Riv'u let (rivu, river; let, small), a small river; a creek; a streamlet.