266 OUR NATIONAL PARKS 



for the canon scenery. Nature, usually so delib- 

 erate in her operations, then created, as we have 

 seen, a new set of features, simply by giving the 

 mountains a shake, — changing not only the high 

 peaks and cliffs, but the streams. As soon as 

 these rock avalanches fell every stream began to 

 sing new songs ; for in many places thousands of 

 boulders were hurled into their channels, rough- 

 ening and half damming them, compelling the 

 waters to surge and roar in rapids where before 

 they were gliding smoothly. Some of the streams 

 were completely dammed, driftwood, leaves, etc., 

 filling the interstices between the boulders, thus 

 giving rise to lakes and level reaches ; and these, 

 again, after being gradually filled in, to smooth 

 meadows, through which the streams now silently 

 meander; while at the same time some of the 

 taluses took the places of old meadows and groves. 

 Thus rough places were made smooth, and smooth 

 places rough. But on the whole, by what at 

 first sight seemed pure confusion and ruin, the 

 landscapes were enriched ; for gradually every 

 talus, however big the boulders composing it, 

 was covered with groves and gardens, and made 

 a finely proportioned and ornamental base for the 

 sheer cliffs. In this beauty work, every boulder 

 is prepared and measured and put in its place 

 more thoughtfully than are the stones of temples. 

 If for a moment you are inclined to regard these 

 taluses as mere draggled, chaotic dumps, climb 



