Mariposa Democrat., 1857-07-23

b were scrutinizing too closely into the secret
S of Nature. The whole height of these Falls il
!, 2, 600 feet Its first leap is over 1,50O feet
1 The stream then runs foaming and roaring
Y down stony, steep channel, and then makes
another leap of 400 feet, until it reaches per
, pendicular height Of 600 feet above the Valley
4 when at this season Of the year, it splashes OIL
{ rather drags itself down the sides Of the rock
into its wide basin below. The Rapids between
these Falls are nearly three quarters of a milo
, in length When on the top, you can descend
} by a rayine, and come out under the first Falls
: 1t requires that one should be several hun
dred yards distant to justly appreciate the
great elevation of this, the highest, and, during
the month of May, the grandest of all the cas-
cades. The impression made on the mind Of
the beholder is, that it partakes more of the
} wonderful than of the sublime. The water Of
the last runs, or rather springs, over the preci-
pice, with languid splash, striking on a pro-
jecting bunch of hard strata of rock, which,
when the stream above is full it freely over
leaps with great force, and in an unbroken fall.
Bidding adieu to the favorite Falls Of the
Yosemite Indians we continued our tramp up
the left-hand bank of the river, toward the
broad and glistening front Of the Sentinel Rock,
at whose base the three branches of the Mer-
ced River join together; and opposite to which
stands the North Dome, 3,17S feet high, and
behind which the South Dome rears its ponder
Gus, towering pinnacle, unrivaled in majesty,
unequaled in height, and unsurpassed in solid
fed grandeur-being ,593 feet from the river
to the knob Of the Dome. The Sentinel Rock
which is 3,5O3 feet high, stands at the head Of
the Valley, and is equally as prominent from
its position, as FL Captain. 1t conveys an idea
Of massive magnificence, and, when viewed
from either side, affords an ample view of the
tremendous height of its top, and the vast d.
mensions of its base. Keeping it on our right,
we rode along the north branch Of the main
stream for mile, until we reached Mirror
Lake, on whose placid surface the whole Of the
surrounding heights were reflected, with dis
tnctness and clearness unrivaled in beauty
by the substantial precipices which enclose it.
The water is ten feet in depth in the center Of
this Lake, and has greensh tinge-covers an
area of eight acres, and is formed by the waters
which flow from Lake Ten-nay-ia, some fifteen
miles north of the Valley, and which have been
damned up by fallen mass Of rocks from the
craggy sleeps of the Sentinel Rock. We saw
great number of trout swimming near the
surface of the water, and succeeded in shoot
ing one while basking in the sunshine.
! Leaving the Lake, we returned to the juno
ton of the streams, and keeping the Sentinel
Rock on our left we dismounted from our
horses, and followed the middle tributary Of
the river, up narrow and rocky gorge, for
distance of nearly two miles, when we were
brought into contact with the Vernal Falls. A
grove of pine trees stand clustering around the
foot of the Falls, and large pine stands like
a sentinel directly in front of the descending
stream. Everything is moist and green, and
the surrounding mountains enclose the stream
with a graceful slope, forming small and al
most perfect ampitheatre. The water falls in
one unbroken Sheet over a level, perpendicu-
lar height of 800 feet and then following arug-
ged. narrow and steep channel, it roaringly
wends its way to the foot of the Sentinel Rock.
Here the ideal aud the beautiful prevail. An
exquisite thrill of pleasure pervades the senses.
The stream glides over the wall above with
an easy gracefulness that fills the soul with ad
miration. All is soft, uniform and subduing.
Nothing is bosterous, irregular or misplaced.
These Falls are viewed from ledge of rocks
some seventy-fve yards from where the water
strikes the bottom in its descent. The stream
runs between the observer and the foot Of the
Falls. From this point you turn your back
directly upon the falling water, and scrambing
up the mountain before your face, hugging the
ridge as closely as possible, and tugging and
pulling your body up the Insecure steep, you
reach an Indian trail. Following this path,
which turns to the left through gap in the
mountain, your feet soon press wide plateau !;
and from this point the beauty and the mag
nifcence of the scenery is beyond conception.
Nature is here triumphant over Art and de-
MUS. Before you rises in stupendous gran
deur the towering summit of the South Dome,
the highest and the most prodlglous mass OF
solid rock in the Valley, being 4,593 in height
The North Dome is more perfect in rotundlty,
but fails to fill the mind with so grand an idea
of immensty. Side by side, between the Dome
and the Nevada Falls, stand pointed conical
rocks-that nearest the waterfall being called
the Sugar Loaf The opening between the first
pillar and the Dome affords beautiful view
of pointed mountain, which is also seen from
Lake Mirror This addition to the scene fills
up the measure of awful solemnity, that startes
the imagination, and renders it powerless to
describe. TO the right, fair in view, gently
roars the Nevada Falls, descending over per-
pendicular wall or enlightenment of 800 feet
from the stream, where the water appeare as
I thouoh blown over the cliff in minute particles