Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-16

GTedt diDtcHtty W CrOSStRg-SlR-
GUAR Formations ofNature-MaRy
Of tie men out of Provisions The
scoyst four Suderings Commenced.
The morning Of the 3D. September
broke bright and cloudIess, the sun RI
sing from out the prairie in all his mai
esty. Singular as it may appear near
ly every shower we had came in the
night, from the time we left Austin I'M
I'll we reached the Mexican settlements.
Again we spent a couple of hours dry
ing our blankets, then saddled up and
pursued our journey, and still in a
northwest direction.
We lad scarcely gone six miles be-
fore we suddenly came upon an i'm
mense rent or chasm in the earth, far
exceeding in depth the one we had so
much difficulty in crossing the day be-
fore. No one was aware of its exis-
tence until we were Immediately upon
its brink, when 4 spectacle, exceeding
in grandeur any thing we had previous
ly witnessed, came suddenly in view.
Not tree or bush, no outline whatev-
er, marked its position or course, and
we were all lost in amaZement and won
der as one ny one we left the double
file ranks and Gpde up to the verge Of
the yawning abyss.
In depth it could not have been less
than eight hundred or a thousand feet,
from three to five hundred yards in
width, and at the point where we first
struck it the sides were nearly perpen-
dicular. A sickly sensation Of dizzi-
ness was felt by all as we locke down.
as it were, into the very depths Of the
earth Below an occasional spot of
green relieved the eye, and a small
stream of water, now rising 10 the view
then sinking beneath some huge rock,
was bubling and foaming along. I'M
mense walls, columns, and in some pa-
ces what appeared to be arches were
seen standing, worn by the water I'M
doubleday, and so perfect in form that
we could with difficulty be brought to
believe that Tue hand of man was not
upon them. The rains of centuries,
falling upon an immense prairie, bad
here found 4 reservoir, and their work
ings upon the different veins Of earth
aud stone had formed these strange
and lanciful shapes.
Before reaching the chasm we had
crossed numerous large trails leading
little more to the west than we were
travelling, and we were at once con-
WINGED that they all centered at a com
mon crossing close by. In this con-
lecture we were not disappointed; for
trot of half an hour brought us into
large road, tie thoroughtare along
which millions Of Indians, buffalo, and
mustangs had travelled for years. Per-
ilous as the descent looked, we well
knew there was no other near. The
lead mule was again started ahead, the
steadier and older horses were next
driven over the sides, while the more
skittish and untractable brought up the
rear. Once in the narrow path which
led circuitously down the deep de-
scent there was no turning back, and
our maddened animals finally reached
the bottom in salty. Several large
stones were loosened from their las-
Jennings by our men during the fright
| fuI descent. They would leap, dash,
and thunder down the precipitous sides,
and strike against the bottom far below
US with a terrific crash.
We found a running stream at the
bottom, and on the opposite side a ro-
mantle dell covered with short grass
and a few scattering cotton woods. A
large body of Indians had encamped
on this very spot but few days pre-
vious, the wilted limbs Of the trees and
other "sign" showing that they had
made it resting place. We, too,
halted a couple of hours, to give our
horses an opportunity TO Craze and
rest themselves. The Trail which led
up on the opposite side was discovered
a short distance above us, to the south,
winding up the steep and ragged sides
Of the Precipice.
As we journeyed along this dell all
were struck with admiration at the
strange and fanciful figures made by
the washing Of the waters during the
rainy season. In some places perfect
walls, formed of a reddish clay, were
seen standing, and were they any where
else it would be impossible to believe
that other than the hand Of man had
formed them. The vein ofwhich these
walls were composed was Of even
thickness, very hard, and ran perpen
dicularly; and when the softer SAND
which had surrounded them was wash
ed away the veins still remained stan
ding upright, in some places one hun.
dred feet high and three or four hun.
dred in length.
Columns, too, were there and sucl
was their architectural order, and 81
much of chaste grandeur was Their,
about them that we were lost in won
der and admiration. In other place
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