164 
THE GEAND CANOE DISTEICT. 
longation of the median line, and immediately athwart the course of the 
grandest part of the Grand Canon, and as we reach the southern brink there 
bursts upon the view a scene which rivals that at Point Sublime. In truth, 
many will no doubt consider it as the grandest in the canon, and in certain 
respects it certainly is so, though I must, for my own part, give a slight 
preference to that of Point Sublime. It is far more picturesque than the 
latter and is less panoramic. The objects are grouped about a central 
point, or rather axis, to which they are seen to be tributary. A stretch of 
the river six miles long is in full view, flowing in the dark depths of the 
granite more than a mile below. The reason alone tells us it is water ; to 
the eye it is a fixed, motionless, slender thread— a narrow streak of color — a 
ghost. It comes, we know not whence — seemingly from the bowels of the 
earth, and it seems to enter them again beneath our very feet. On either 
side spring up the gigantic buttes lined with richest tracery and molded 
in graceful patterns. The great promontories from either wall stretch out 
towards it, presenting terminal gables or sharp spurs biflstling with minarets 
and needles. A perspective of fifty miles is before us of twin palisades, too 
grand for comprehension, of infinite diversity, and amazing sculpture. In 
the interspace are numberless structures of wonderful forms and colossal 
magnitudes. 
The scene here in comparison to that of Point Sublime may be likened 
to the vista of a grand avenue of the most stately and imposing structures 
viewed from the end of the street, while from Point Sublime the standpoint 
is analogous to one from a projecting pediment situated mid-length of the 
avenue, where we may with equal effect look up or down and aci’oss to 
noble structures on the other side. At Powell’s Plateau the view is more 
picturesque and more systematic. In grandeur it is about equal. But the 
defect which usually mars all canon scenery is here more pronounced. It 
is the false perspective, the flattening of objects through want of gradations 
in tones and shades, and the obscurity of form and detail produced by the 
great distances and hazy atmosphere. But under proper lights and con- 
ditions of the air these defects may, on rare occasions, be dispelled. 
The main wall on the southern side of Powell’s Plateau descends to 
the river with more than usual precipitation. From above, little of it can 
