CLOUDS BELOW TAHAWUS. 101 



confusion. It is impossible to conceive anything half 

 so strange and wild. 

 It seemed as if 



" A single step had freed one from the skirts 

 Of the blind vapor — opened to the view 

 Glory beyond all glory ever seen 

 By waking sense, or by the dreaming soul. 

 ****** 



Oh, 'twas an unimaginable sight ; 



Clouds, mists, streams, waters, rocks, and emerald turf; 



Clouds of all tincture, rocks, and sapphire sky, 



Confused, commingled, mutually inflamed, 



Molten together, and composing thus, 



Each lost in each, a marvellous array 



Of temple, palace, citadel, and huge 



Fantastic pomp of structure without name, 



In fleecy folds voluminous enwrapped. 



Such by the Hebrew prophets were beheld 



In vision — forms uncouth of mightiest power, 



For admiration and mysterious awe." 



We had engaged a teamster to come on a certain 

 day and take us out to the settlements. He, however, 

 did not make his appearance ; and so, after a fatiguing 

 tramp of twelve miles in the morning, we concluded 

 to set out on foot, hoping to meet him somewhere in 



