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Show Figure 6.-Cnmp nt Fluming Gorge. • CIIAP'rER III. FROM f'LAMING GORGE TO THE GATE OF LODORE. You must not think of a mountain-range as a line of peaks stanuing ou a plain, but as a broad platform many miles wide, from which mountains have been carved by the waters. You must conceive, too·, that this plateau is cut by gulches and canons in many directions, and that beautiful valleys are scattered about at different altitudes. 'rhe first series of canons we are about to explore constitutes a river channel through such a range of mountams. 'rl10 canon is cut nearly half-way through the range, then turns to the cast, and is cut along the central line, or axis, gradually crossing it to the south. Keeping this direction for more than fifty miles, it then turns abruptly to a outhwest course, and goes diagonally through the southern slope of the range. This much we knew before entering, as we made a partial exploration of the region last fall, climbing many of its peaks, and in a few places reachiug the brink of the canon walls, and looking over precipices, many hundreds of feet high, to the water below. Here and there the walls are broken by lateral canons, the channels of little streams entering the river; through two or three of these, we found our way down to the Green in early winter, and ·walked along the low waterbeach a,t the .foot of the cliffs for several miles. Where the ri vor has this general easterly direction, the western part only has cut for itself a canon, while the eastern has formed a broad valley, called, in honor of an old-time trapper, Brown's Park, anu loug known as a favorite winter resort for mouttt ain men and India11~:~ . Jl[ay 30.-This morning we are ready to enter the mysterious cailon, and sta.rt with .·orne c-tnxiety. The old mountaineers tell us that it cannot be run; the Indians say, "Water heap catch 'em," but all are eager for the t.ria', and. otl' we go. |