THE YOSEMITE 249 



the neighbourhood of water, though it is found else- 

 where. Walked to still, deep, and cold little Mirror 

 Lake after lunch, with the noble cliff of the Half Dome 

 overshadowing it. 



Friday, 27 'th June. Slept very sound ; up at seven. 

 After breakfast Douglas and I walked to the Vernal 

 Falls, and beyond towards the Nevada. It was a 

 lovely morning, and delightful walking through the 

 forests of Ponderosa and Douglasii. The latter follows 

 the river right up to the Nevada Falls. Nearly walked 

 on a rattlesnake, which went to its hole rattling. The 

 Vernal Falls, as seen from the wooden bridge across 

 the river below them, are very fine. A bold rich fall, 

 lined with the green fir trees on each side ; " a cataract 

 of diamonds," as the Indians called it. In the afternoon 

 took a trap and drove round the valley. The Yosemite 

 Falls from below, and close, are really grand, an im- 

 mense volume of water. In like manner the Capitan 

 is immense, and no photo gives an idea. The Virgin's 

 Tears Fall, beyond El Capitan, is lovely, and breaks 

 into spray, the fall never reaching the ground. The 

 Bridal Veil Fall's rainbow is very striking. The 

 Douglas firs at this end of the valley are immense. 



Saturday, 28//Z June. Rode down the valley to 

 Bridal Veil Bridge, and made the following measure- 

 ments : 



Pinus ponder osa 1 8 ft. 6 in. ; 19 ft. ; 20 ft. 2 in. ; 

 20 ft. ; 20 ft. 6 in. ; 19 in. ; 22 ft. 6 in. 



Cupressus decurrens 28 ft. (31 ft. at ground); 22 

 ft. ; 24 ft. ; 22 ft. 6 in. 



A. douglasii 20 ft; 20 ft; 25 ft 3 in.; 20 ft. 

 6 in. ; 27 ft. 6 in. 



Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine) 28 ft. 5 in. ; 24 

 ft. ; 23 ft ; 24 ft ; 23 ft 6 in. ; 29 ft (Uncle Tom). 



Picea grandis 1 6 ft. 3 in. 



