MUSIC TEMPLE. 71 
this is all carved out by a little stream, which only runs during the few 
showers that fall now and then in this arid country. The waters from the 
bare rocks back of the canon, gathering- rapidly into a small channel, have 
eroded a deep side canon, through which they run, until they fall into the 
farther end of this chamber. The rock at the ceiling is hard, the rock 
below, very soft and friable ; and, having cut through the upper harder por 
tion down into the lower and softer, the stream has washed out these friable 
sandstones ; and thus the chamber has been excavated. 
Here we bring our camp. When "Old Shady" sings us a song at night, 
we are pleased to find that this hollow in the rock is filled with sweet sounds. 
It was doubtless made for an academy of music by its storm born architect; 
so we name it Music Temple. 
August 2. We still keep our camp in Music Temple to-day. 
1 wish to obtain a view of the adjacent country, if possible ; so, early 
in the morning, the men take me across the river, and I pass along by the 
foot of the cliff half a mile up stream, and then climb first up broken 
ledges, then two or three hundred yards up a smooth, sloping rock, and 
then pass out on a narrow ridge. Still, I find I have not attained an altitude 
from which I can overlook the region outside of the canon; and so I descend 
into a little gulch, and climb again to a higher ridge, all the way along naked 
sandstone, and at last I reach a point of commanding view. I can look 
several miles up the San Juan, and a long distance up the Colorado ; and 
away to the northwest I can see the Henry Mountains ; to the northeast, 
the Sierra La Sal ; to the southeast, unknown mountains ; and to the south 
west, the meandering of the canon. Then I return to the bank of the river. 
We sleep again in Music Temple. - _^. 
August 3. Start early this morning. The features of this canon are \ 
greatly diversified. Still vertical walls at times. These are usually found 
to stand above great curves. The river, sweeping around these bends, 
undermines the cliffs in places. Sometimes, the rocks are overhanging ; in 
other curves, curious, narrow glens are found. Through these we climb, 
by a rough stairway, perhaps several hundred feet, to where a spring bursts 
out from under an overhanging cliff, and where cottonwoods and willows 
stand, while, along the curves of the brooklet, oaks grow, and other rich 
