Feb. 28, 1859.] IN THE ALA-TU AND AC-TU MOUNTAINS. 135 



large trees growing at their base ; shrubs and creeping plants were 

 hanging from the fissures, which gave a softer, but a more sublime 

 character to the scene than when viewed from above. At one part 

 a line of stony turrets were standing on this vast wall, receding 

 into hazy distance ; in another, a huge mass 700 or 800 feet high 

 was quite isolated from the precipice by a great chasm, having 

 around its base huge trees covered with green and yellow foliage, 

 contrasting beautifully with the red and purple rocks. Beneath 

 these was a slope composed of debris fallen from the cliffs above, 

 now covered with moss of almost every hue, and extending to the 

 bottom of the pass. The ground appeared covered with grass, but the 

 great depth made it look intensely gloomy. Looking up the gorge 

 towards the south, I saw several of the snowy peaks of the Ac-tu 

 gleaming in the sun, while all around us was in deep shade. 



Having transferred this scene to my sketch-book, we continued 

 our march downward, scrambling over many difficult spots, and 

 reached the bottom to our great delight. Close to the foot of the 

 rocks we found the bed of a torrent, in which a small stream was 

 leaping and bubbling over the large stones heaped up in its channel. 

 Following the stream down this tremendous defile for about half a 

 mile, we saw a track by which the wild animals come down to drink. 

 Proceeding onward, we presently came to a part where the water 

 disappeared among the rocks. The defile here became narrower, 

 while down one of its- sides a small waterfall was pouring ; its upper 

 part was invisible, but the last leap was from a cliff between 500 and 

 600 feet high. Soon after bounding over the edge of the rock, the 

 stream was wafted about by the breeze, like fine gauze floating in the 

 air. As it descended lower, the water was dispersed in white spray, 

 which fell upon us as we passed like a Scotch mist, and quickly 

 producing a similar effect. 



The gorge became narrower, till we could not see a hundred 

 paces before us. At length it became a mere fissure, in some parts 

 only twenty-two paces wide, in others twenty-five — with precipices 

 varying from 1000 to 1200 feet in height. On one side the rocks 

 were overhanging, on the other receding, having all the appearance 

 of being able to fit into each other, could any power be found to press 

 them together. The bottom was strewn with huge blocks of granite, 

 slate, and jasper, which had been rolled on and rounded by the 

 torrent. Sometimes the water rushes down this place, filling it to 

 the height of thirty-five feet, as clearly shown by the lines on the face 

 of the rocks. At these times no pencil could delineate the impetu- 

 osity of the water, or pen describe the thundering of the flood, as it 

 rushes through this fearful chasm. 



