456 



UNITED STATES. 



difficult, that the bones of hears and deer, are sail 

 to be frequently met with below them, owing proba- 

 bly to the animals having descended to drink, and, 

 not being able to return, starved to death there. The 

 face of the rocks is worn somewhat circular, and is 

 considerably excavated below. The stream is of 

 course, precipitated to the bottom without impedi- 

 ment, and very much divided into spray, by so long 

 a passage through the air. Between the fallen wa- 

 ter ^nd the rock, the space is covered with verdure, 

 and the whole distance from the bottom to the top is 

 beautified with plants, w^hich find room for their roots 

 between the crumbling layers and among the moul- 

 dering parts of the rock. The mosses, maiden 

 hairs, strawberries, shumacks, and spruces, which 

 have fixed themselves here, give to the scene a ve- 

 ry lively and pleasant air ; and, owing to the abun- 

 dant evaporation, there is so little heat prevalent at 

 this place, that snow remains unmelted until near 

 the middle of June, between the descending torrent 

 and the rock from which it is projected. Both sides 

 of the valley through which the water hastens away, 

 are composed of steep and lofty rocks, supporting 

 huge trees, chiefly of the evergreen kind ; and along 

 this there is an extensive view of the mountain sides 

 towards the east. Among the fragments, which, by 

 the undermining of the water below, are from time 

 to time, breaking off in masses of many tons weight, 

 and rushing to the bottom, and some of which are 

 ROW hanging almost in equipoise, just ready to drop; 

 the most luxuriant vegetation keeps out of sight t'he 

 bare and disordered appearance, and. In a good de- 

 gree, conceals behind its perpetual foliage, those ru- 



