The Father of Trout Streams 303 



bulk of this one tree which was old when 

 Columbus discovered America. 



In wandering through this grove one is con- 

 stantly coming upon some tree that challenges 

 comparison; and it is interesting to observe the 

 injuries they have received in the past. Doubt- 

 less they have been abused and ill treated by 

 man from time immemorial. This entire coun- 

 try has been swept by fires, time and again. 

 Mexican herders for years have driven their 

 herds into these groves when the fodder of the 

 lowland gave out, and have moved on leaving 

 their camp-fires to start up at the first strong 

 wind, the flame sweeping through the grove eat- 

 ing up the young trees and doing great damage 

 to the old ones. On some of the trunks evidence 

 of fire and other damage, a thousand years ago, 

 can be seen. Again many have been set afire 

 by miscreants in human form, and there are men 

 so lost to all sense of shame and the proprieties, 

 who have cut such trees down, and converted 

 them into lumber. 



One can wander on through this forest, camp- 

 ing near one group, spending days in the vicinity 

 of certain trees, and have the consciousness of 

 living in the most remarkable forest in the 

 world; a forest that seems to belong to the age 

 of titans, something that has been left behind 

 in the race of time. Figures and measurements 

 convey but little idea of the actual size of these 



