The Nevada Democrat., 1858-08-04
A was.r.r.Il in nevada County.

An artist and naturalist, new on mountain
tsur, sends the Sacramento Bee the following
description Of a waterfall in Nevada county:
"In my wanderings among the mountains in
Nevada county, was told Of beautiful water
fall in the nsighborhOod of Eureka, and re-
solved to visit it. Passing through trails, along
bitches and over mountains distance of seven
miles, ! came in sight Of little lake from
whence issued the stream that supplied the fall.
passed down to the lake over o bed of coarse
gravel and broken stones, among which grew
profusion Of flowers OF the most brilliant and
delicate hues, such as would be an ornament to
the richest pastures in New England. cross
ed the stream at the foot of the lake, assembled
the opposite bank, and within distance of
twenty or thirty reds came to the head of the
fall. Here the banks Of the stream became
pyerhanging, and it was with some difficulty
discovered place down which could safely
descend. Having accomplished this. forced o
passage through dense chepparal, making o
circuit around the foot Of the wall of rock, and
at length came in full view OF the fall. The
rock over which the water takes its leap is o
crumbling basalt, which has been worn away
into deep indentation, the sides of which are
rounded with most beautiful regularity into
the form Of o semicirole, each line Of which,
turning outward with an increasing curve as 1t
reaches from the fall, enlarges the width Of the
valley until it becomes plain, though an uns-
ven one, of considerable extent The basalt,
which is seventy or eighty feet in depth, rested
on a substratum of soft sandstone, which has
been worn by the action of the water, and
forms cavity of considerable extent, through
which the visitor, without much difficulty, can
pass, his only danger arising from the impend-
ing masses of loose basalt, which, being wedged
and dovetailed together abeve him, are liable
to fail at the slightest touch. AT the extremity
of the semicirce the stream glided with
graceful curve from the rock above, aud sweep
ing entirely away from it, comes down through
the air in an unobstructed column to depth
of ninety-eight feet. Formed into wreaths of
spray in its descent, it makes o most beautiful
transparent drapery of snowy wbiteuess, veil
ing but not hiding the rock behind it, softening
the ruggedness and giving grace aud beauty to
the dark aud frowuing precipice. Seated upon
loose rocks, which had fallen in great heaps
from the sides of the precipce, and sweltering
in the heat Of a blazing sun, made sketch of
the scene. Then, clambering over the rocks
and through thick clusters of bushes, reached
the cavity beneath the wall. and passed through
1t behind the fall. The motion of the fall ere
ated gentle breeze that sent shower of spray,
most refreshing to one, parched as was, by the
heat. i stopped several minutes in the grOtto
behind the fall and beheld the water pouring
over my head down into little basin two or
three rods beyond me. Then, with my drink
ing-cup in my hand, went down to the edge
Of the basin, and, at the cost of O wet coat,
dipped up draught of the pure water and
drank to the divinity Of the fall. Pursuing my
way round the cavern, went down the Oppo-
site side of the stream and reluctantly bade
adieu to scene which, in point of beauty,
have seldom seen surpassed. ]. L."