276 Life in the Open 



of deep picturesque cartons by the rains of centuries. 

 At most points the shores are abrupt, no beaches ap- 

 pearing; the mountains rise directly from the ocean, 

 affording but a shelf as a vantage ground. This is par- 

 ticularly true of the south-west side, where no landing 

 can be made for miles, except where a canon has formed, 

 its mouth marked by a sandy beach of pure white against 

 which the surf piles in. The one town, Avalon, is made 

 up of hotels, cottages, shops, and a large fleet of boats 

 for the benefit of anglers from all over the world. It is 

 situated in the mouth of Grand Carton, one of the 

 largest of the cartons at the south end of the island ; the 

 only other settlement is Cabrillo, at the Isthmus, about 

 fifteen miles away, a maze of mountains intervening. 

 The two places have long been connected by a trail by 

 which wild-goat hunters made their way up the sides of 

 the mountains to the interior; but as the population 

 grew it was evident that a perfect road was necessary, 

 so several years ago a stage road with a low grade was 

 begun, started at both ends, winding up the mountains 

 from Avalon to the Isthmus, one of the most extra- 

 ordinary pieces of road engineering, in all probability, in 

 the country, owing to its sensational features and 

 the apparent difficulties in the way of its com- 

 pletion. 



Lovers of coaching and by this is meant mountain 

 coaching doubtless form a class by themselves, but it is 

 difficult to understand how any one fond of sport that 

 has an essence of daring in it cannot enthuse over this 



