214 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



so designated by the English — are perhaps the wildest 

 in the world. Although hardly more than hills in 

 elevation, they display in miniature all the features of 

 the grandest mountains. In passing through them one 

 beholds an endless succession of sharp, towering peaks, 

 nearly perpendicular precipices, and a very maze of 

 little valleys ; and during the season of the rains 

 through each small valley there runs a little mountain 

 torrent. 



This singular appearance is the result of the geological 

 formation. That formation is sandstone, and for the 

 most part sandstone so soft as hardly to deserve the 

 name of stone. Easily cut by the falling rain or running 

 water, flaking off from exposure to the atmosphere, it 

 has in the course of ages been moulded by the elements 

 into its present fantastic forms. 



After this brief description of these mountains, I will 

 continue my account of my ride through them. For the 

 first few miles, as I have said, the scenery was very 

 interesting. It was especially so in contrast with the 

 monotonous level of the plains through which I had 

 been previously journeying. As I advanced the pass 

 narrowed. On either side rose precipices ; they were 

 not very lofty, but almost absolutely perpendicular. 

 Composed of bright yellow sandstone, their appearance 

 was exceedingly picturesque. At short intervals tall 

 peaks rose behind them, and also long, slanting ridges ; 

 and these ridges were often interspersed with small, 

 grass-covered slopes or little patches of green forest. 

 Occasionally these patches of forest consisted of fir 

 trees, and their green was of the darkest hue. It 



