THE VAST. 



cumference. The "Burnt Cave" is also remark- 

 able ; it measures forty feet nine inches across its 

 roots, while the cavity extends to the distance of 

 forty feet— large enough for a horseman to ride in, 

 and, turning round, return. We now reach the 

 "Beauty of the Forest," a tree sixty-five feet in 

 circumference, fully three hundred feet high, sym- 

 metrical in form, and adorned with a magnificent 

 crest of foliage. Reaching the road, and returning 

 to the house, we pass the "Two Guardsmen," 

 which tower to the height of three hundred feet, 

 and are sixty-five and seventy feet in circumfer- 

 ence, forming an appropriate gateway to this 

 wonderful forest. 



Two of these trees have been used for the satis- 

 faction of public curiosity at a distance from their 

 home. One of the noblest, called the "Big Tree," 

 was felled ; a work of no small labour, since the 

 trunk was ninety-six feet in circumference at the 

 base, and solid throughout. It was effected by 

 boring holes with augers, which were then con- 

 nected by means of the axe, and occupied twenty- 

 five men for five days. But even when this was 

 done, so accurately perpendicular was the noble 

 column that it would not fall, and it was only 

 by applying a wedge and strong leverage, during 

 a heavy breeze, that its overthrow was at last 

 effected. In falling it seemed to shake the ground 

 like an earthquake; and its immense weight 

 forced it into the soft virgin soil, so that it lies 

 imbedded in a trench, and the stones and earth 

 were hurled upward by the shock with such force 

 that these records of the fall may be seen on the 

 surrounding trees to the height of nearly a hun- 

 dred feet. The stump was smoothed, and has 

 been fitted up for theatrical performances and 

 balls, affording ample room for thirty-two danc- 

 141 



