THE GRAND CANON 



others are scattered over a large stretch of the 

 canon wilderness. 



All the canon rock-beds are lavishly painted, 

 except a few neutral bars and the granite notch 

 at the bottom occupied by the river, which 

 makes but little sign. It is a vast wilderness 

 of rocks in a sea of light, colored and glowing 

 like oak and maple woods in autumn, when 

 the sun-gold is richest. I have just said that 

 it is impossible to learn what the canon is 

 like from descriptions and pictures. Powell s 

 and Button s descriptions present magnificent 

 views not only of the canon but of all the grand 

 region round about it; and Holmes s drawings, 

 accompanying Button s report, are wonder 

 fully good. Surely faithful and loving skill 

 can go no farther in putting the multitudinous 

 decorated forms on paper. But the colors, the 

 living, rejoicing colors, chanting morning and 

 evening in chorus to heaven! Whose brush 

 or pencil, however lovingly inspired, can give 

 us these? And if paint is of no effect, what 

 hope lies in pen-work? Only this: some may 

 be incited by it to go and see for themselves. 



No other range of mountainous rock-work 

 of anything like the same extent have I seen 

 that is so strangely, boldly, lavishly colored. 

 The famous Yellowstone Canon below the 

 falls comes to mind; but, wonderful as it is, 



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