Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, Under the Direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Page 076, Exploration of the Colorado River

76 EXPLORATION OF THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO. sand fantastic patterns. Through a cleft in the wall the sun shines on this pavement, which gleams in iridescent beauty. I pass up into the cleft. It is very narrow, with a succession of pools standing at higher, levels as I go back. The water in these pools is clear and cool, coming down from springs. Then I return to the pavement, which is but a terrace or bench, over which the river runs at its flood, but left bare at present. Along the pavement, in many places, are basins of clear water, in strange contrast to the red mud of the river. At length I come to the end of this marble terrace, and take again to the boat. Eiding down a short distance, a beautiful view is presented. The river turns sharply to the east, and seems inclosed by a wall, set with -a million brilliant gems. What can it mean ? Every eye is engaged, every one wonders. On coming nearer, we find fountains bursting from the rock, high overhead, and the spray in the sunshine forms the gems which bedeck the wall. The rocks below the fountain are covered with mosses, and ferns, and many beautiful flowering plants. We name it Vasey's Paradise, in honor of the botanist who traveled with us last year. We pass many side canons to day, that are dark, gloomy passages, back into the heart of the rocks that form the plateau through which this canon is cut. It rains again this afternoon. Scarcely do the first drops fall, when little rills run down the walls. As the storm comes on, the little rills increase in size, until great streams are formed. Although the walls of the canon are chiefly limestone, the adjacent country is of red sandstone; and now the waters, loaded with these sands, come down in rivers of bright red mud, leaping over the walls in innumerable cascades. It is plain now how these walls are polished in many places. At last, the storm ceases, and we go on. We have cut through the sandstones and limestones met in the upper part of the canon, and through one great bed of marble a thousand feet in thickness. In this, great numbers of caves are hollowed out, and carvings are seen, which suggest architectural forms, though on a scale so grand that architectural terms belittle them. As this great bed forms a distinctive feature of the canon, we call it Marble Gallon.