, 1867-06-28
THE APPEARANCE OF THE FALLS.

IhE AFfEAkANCE OF THE FALLS.
The Palouse, for miles above the falls and be-
low, is confined to a narrow canyon, and at the
falls, the water making a sudden turn to the
west, leaps over 10 sheet, a rocky ledge
falling from $50 to 200 feet into large and near
y circular basin below. The exact height of
the falls is not known. There is sketch of the
falls in "Mullau's Military Road Report" and
he estimates the height at 100 feet, and Castle
man, who took a photograph of the falls, calls
them 100 feet probably they are not less than
$50 feet nor more than 200. Tie river near the
falls is hardly exceled by the falls itself Tue
banks are of solid rock and perpendicular, and
the water rushes along from 200 to 300 feet be>
low, so deep down as hardly to be seen, and
making one giddy standmg on the brink he
looks down. How the river has made its way
through this rock must be left to the geologist
to determine Perhaps the chauael has been
worn by the constant attrition of the waters, or,
perhaps, and more probable, it has been caused
by some sudden -Leaving-for nature, like
mortals, has her fits of desperation, her moments
OF passion, and moods of fury, when her long
silence and quiet ways become painful, and she
seeks relief in convulsons and EARTHQUAKES
The basin below is nearly circular and from 300
to 500 feet across. To ge! a good view of the
falls, and see its real beauties, you must descend
into the basin and get directly under the falls.
To do this you go down the river about three
hundred yards, and descend a chasm over piles
of rocks to the bottom below the way down is
not easy but practicable, and then you go over,
and under, and through dense mass of bushes
and underground, some two hundred yards up
to the falls. A few hours work with an ak |
would make good trail through these bushes |
entirely passable for ladies up to the falls On |
reaching the basin, the whole appearance is |
charming. The steep banks look much higher
than when viewed from above and both the vol |
ume of water and the height of the falls appear
greater. The water in the basin is very deem. |
and there is a constant ebb and flow, and il has
tide like the seattle waters rushing out sey> |
eral feet on the shores and then receding. Ba.
thing in its waters, we tried with a long pole to |
touch bottom, but in many places the water was |
too deep. The spray will wet you through as |
rapidly as rain. The rocks are covered with |
beautiful moss, and on the rocks, and in the |
spray, and on all sides you are surrounded with |
rainbows, some Of them forming on the rocks |
beneath your feet complete circles, so that you |
may literally walk among them.
. AHe PiOyeSt was discussed, OF getting the In |
dians to take US from the ferry in canoes up the
Palouse as far as practicable, but we were told
they were superstitious about the falls and could
not easily be persuaded to go to them.
10 the poor Indian whose untutored mind.
Sees God in clouds and hears him in the winds.n
Among other beliefs of theirs is, that If an InS
dian belonging to another tribe 20 to the falls.
IL Will produce thunder and lightning, and they
nave tradition that two of their maidens went
into the basin for bath and were turned into
dogs. '''''
But am extending this communication, and
nave written, not SO much to give any accurate
description of the falls, as to call attention to
them and TO assure all that the trip will richly
pay. As hot as the weather is, by driving in the
cool OF the evening and early morn, the falls
may be reached the second day with but little
from the heat, and then with the
sights and baths, and fine trout fishing, the little
Ills ot the way are soon forgotten, and we re-
turn nome refreshed from the trip, and with
many pleasant memories to be conued over when
the long nights and cloudy days come.
II may be added that, any notice of our trip
would be unsatisfactory to all the party, without
an acknowledgment of the many civiities and
hospitaliies received from Mr.. Sicott at the
ferry, who did all be could to render the trip
agreeable. Natures gentleman may be found
quite as often in the cottage, standing on the ,
borders of civilization, as in the gilded palace,
and 1t is the wish of all the party, that when /
SilcOtt has thrown ont his last line, aud the fer
lyman Oharon, has landed him safely over the |
river Styx, that 1t may be his fortune to stand
beside waters sweeter than the Snake, and that
yreener fields than its sand banks may greet his