XIV CONTENTS 



surface-streams Oases in the waste Catch-basins 

 Old sea-beds Volcanic action Lava-flows Geological 

 ages Kinds of rock Glaciers Land slips Movement 

 of stones The talus Stages of the talus Desert floors 

 Sandstone blocks Salt-beds Sand-beds Mountain 

 vegetation Withered grasses Barren rock Mountain 

 colors Saw-toothed ridges Seen from the peaks The 

 Sun-fire kingdom 23 



CHAPTER III. The Bottom of the Bowl. Early geo- 

 logical days The former Gulf Sea-beaches on desert 

 Harbors and reefs Indian remains The Cocopas The 

 Colorado Kiver The delta dam The inland lake The 

 first fall Springs and wells in the sea-bed The New 

 River New beaches The second fall The third beach 

 The failing water Evaporation Bottom of the Bowl 

 Drying out of the sea-bed Advance of the desert Be- 

 low sea-level Desolation of the basin Beauty of the 

 sand-dunes Cactus and salt-bush Desert animals 

 Birds Lizards and snakes Mirage The water illusion 

 Decorative landscapes Sensuous qualities in Nature 

 Changing the desert Irrigation in the basin Changing 

 the climate Dry air Value of the air supply Value of 

 the desert Destruction of natural beauty Effects of 

 mining, lumbering, agriculture Ploughing the prairies 

 u Practical men" Fighting wind, sand, and heat Na- 

 ture eternal Return of desolation 44 



CHAPTER IV. The Silent River. Rise of the Colora- 

 do In the canyon On the desert The lower river 

 Sluggish movement Stillness of the river The river's 

 name Its red color Compared with the Nile The 

 blood hue River changes Red sands and silt River- 

 banks u Bottom" lands Green bordering bands 

 Bushes and flowers Soundless water Wild fowl Her- 



