146 GRAND CANON DISTRICT. 



essential part of the grandeur of the Grand Canon is the narrowness of 

 its defiles. Much color has been gives to this notion by the first illustra- 

 tions of the canon from the pencil of Egloffstein in the celebrated report 

 of Lieutenant Ives. Never was a great subject more artistically mis- 

 represented or more charmingly belittled. Nowhere in the Kaibab sec- 

 tion is any such extreme narrowness observable, and even in the Uin- 

 karet section the width of the great inner gorge; is a little greater than 

 the depth. In truth a little reflection will show that such a character 

 would be inconsistent with the highest and strongest effects. For it is 

 obvious that some notable width is necessary to enable the eye to see the 

 full extent of the walls. In a chasm one mile deep, and only a thousand 

 feet wide, this would be quite impossible. If we compare the Marble 

 Canon or the gorge at theToroweap with wider sections it will at once be 

 seen that the wider ones are much stronger. If we compare one of the 

 longer alcoves having a width of 3 or 4 miles with the view across the 

 main chasm the advantage will be very decidedly with the latter. It 

 is evident that for the display of wall surface of given dimensions a cer- 

 tain amount of distance is necessary. We may be too near or too far 

 for the right appreciation of its magnitude and proportions. The dis- 

 tance must bear some ratio to the magnitude. But at what precise 

 limit this distance must in the present case be fixed is not easy to deter- 

 mine. It can hardly be doubted that if the canon were materially nar- 

 rower it would suffer a loss of grandeur and effect. 



The length of canon revealed clearly and in detail at Point Sublime 

 is about 25 miles in each direction. Towards the northwest the vista 

 terminates behind the projecting mass of Powell's Plateau. But again 

 to the westward may be seen the crests of the upper walls reaching 

 through the Kanab and Uinkaret Plateaus, and finally disappearing 

 in the haze about 75 miles away. 



The space under immediate view from our stand-point, 50 miles long 

 and 10 to 12 wide, is thronged with a great multitude of objects so vast 

 in size, so bold and majestic in form, so infinite in their details, that as the 

 truth gradually reveals itself to the perceptions it arouses the strongest 

 emotions. Unquestionably the overruling feature is the colossal wall 

 on the opposite side of the gulf. Can mortal fancy create a picture of a 

 mural front a mile iu height, 7 to 10 miles distant, and receding into space 

 indefinitely in either direction ? As the mind strives to realize its pro- 

 portions its spirit is broken and its imagination completely crushed. 

 If the wall were simple in its character, if it were only blank and sheer, 

 some rest might be found in contemplating it; but it is full of diversity 

 and eloquent with grand suggestions. It is deeply recessed by alcoves 

 and amphitheaters receding far into the plateau beyond, and usually 

 disclosing only the portals by which they open into the main chasm. 

 Between them the promontories jut out, ending in magnificent gables 

 with sharp mitered angles. Thus the wall rambles in and out, turning 

 numberless corners. Many of the angles are acute and descend as sharp 



