Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-08-19
Correspondence Of the Independent.
The Yo. Hamite Valley Of California.
A NATURAL CURIOSITY.
SAY FRANciscn. Cal. July |.


It's name from tho Indians, although there Is much
dispute nv to the truc orlhoeraphy and pronunci-
ation some insisting on writing Yosemite. IL Ia
a vast rift in the Sierra. through which flows the
Mrrccd r yer, n beautiful crystal stream, which
rises high up in tho mountains. Only about 20
miles Of this canon have yet been explored, but in
that distance nrc consrcgated more natural won
ders than cnn probably elsewhere be found, on
our continent Mt least
Tho valley itseIs an astonishing natural curl
o.ity, inside from the cataracts which it contains
nf which there are no less than six known to ex-
ist each which is Of itself worth long journey
to visit, while altogether they reward one for nj
most nny length IF travel or degree of toll nvolv.
ed in reaching them. AS have already said, the
sides OF this valley rise to the average height of
threo thousand feet, everywhere nearly pcrpen-
dcular, aud in many places entirely SO. Tho
rocks nre OF light grey granite with evergreen
trees and shrubs growing in some plnces out of
the clefts and ON tho lodges and small pla,eaus
which occur, while in others nothing il seen for
long distances from top tc bottom but the smooth
unbruken fnce of the rock,
In one place you may stand in the centre Of tho
canon, and it has the appearance of a pefc md
every way complete amphithentre about three.
fourhs Of a mile wide and two miles long, with
no opening for ingress or csrcss, the steep aud
towering sides forbidding all ascent or Descent
Here and there rise numerous peaks, often Of ffnn
tastical forms and different heights, and 10 which
nalres are beginning to lie attached. One. On it's
fat surface. shows around clork-face. with tho
hands indicating quarter past-six. This VIC cal
lei the Clock Tower. Two other twin-likc points
ne called the Brother. Another, and most 70.
nnrkable and imp 'sng one, which seems to stand
out IA you enter tho valley, and lead the van. has
been named lie Capitdn. 1t ia three thousand
one hundred feet high by measurement. of clear
unchecked eranc, aud 70 perpendicular that
marble dronped from the top, at tho length ol
a
ching the face of it. Think of standing ut Tia foot
Of one huge rock quarter Of n mile in extent
lengthwsc, aud looking up to its top three tlous.
and ono hun licd feet perpendicularly, seven
times the height Of the pinnacle Of St. Peters nt
Rome! Another and the highest penk, is shaped
precisely like dome, and rises witha smooth
round apex iii may say) over four thousand
feet. Ii is called the dome.
Such is the valley itself, Of many miles in cx-
tent, varying from quarter of n mile to mile
In width, the bottom level and covered with lux.
uriant growth Of vegetation. grnss int.rsperscd
with beautiful flowers. and the finest of pines ard
other evergreen trees and shrub-, and the pure.
clear, sparkling Merccd river winding its way "at
its own sweet will' through its midst. II remin.
ded me # the Happy Valley Of DR.. Johnson in
which Rasselas, tho Prince of Abyssinia was born,
and into which there was but place of fiugres-.
1t is the perfect counterpart in nature If his idea.
except, Ms II friend suggested to whom | spoke 0f
the resemblance. there could have been no mos-
qutoes there to torment the happy inhabitants as
they did us in the Yo-hanlite! could not but
think. tno, what place this would be, for penal
colony OF state prison, setting aside romance and
looking only Mt ntilitarinn ends With two or
three points guarded. no human hcing once inrar-
cerntcd within its rocky mountain walls ever could
escape.
But the greatest wonders of this wonderful To-
cality yet remain to he described wiz: tho cata-
racts with which it ntounds. The first of these in
order beginning at the western end Of the valley,
(which has due east and west direction, the sun
rising at one end and setting at the other,) is call
ed the Bridal Veil, aud happily is it named. Itis
formed by a small river which rnshes over the
precipice the south side Of the valley, and falls
some five hundred feet perpendicularly, and runs
at right angles with the Merced into which it
finally enters. The top of the rock il shelving
over the line of the perpendicular, and the water
consequently takes a curving leap and falls in a
thin white sheet, as nearly resembling fine
gauxe veil as anything. As you stand beside IL
top where It takes Its leap, and behold the rocks
and bushes beyond. The graccfuIness and beau
ty Of this cascade cannot be excelled fIou might
look at It for hours and not tire.
Tho next in order IL the Yo.hamite Fall. which
is formed by the stream Of that name which en-
ers the valley at right angle with it. length on
the side opposite to the Bridal Veil The water
pours over a perpendicular ledge distance oi
eighteen hundred feet Of it, frst plunge and falls
into vast ohasm, from witch it soon emerges a.
gain and falls four hand, ct, feet, striking tho
rocks and then taking fne perpendicular leap of
six hundred feet mers. making twenty oight hun
dred feet in sl and forming the highest known
cataract in the world Some idea Of tho vast dis
tance may be had from the faat that sheet DIVA
ter. Which measures eighty seven feet in width st
tho top. appears from the bottom not to exceed
eighteen inches wide, and one may count fifteen
while the water il makingt tho first fell. Think Of
. body Ct water falling frym the highest stssple
in New York, aud then multiply the distance by
fifteen. or think of cataract a. high - ST. Peters