Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ..."killing time." But if the majority say let us travel--let us to-day--RIDE TO MOUNT BEATITUDE AND INSPIRATION POINT. We immediately concur. It is especially desirable that those who have accompanied us thus far by Big Oak Flat, and who, from whatever cause, prefer returning the same way, should be with us on this trip. For if possibly we exclude the scene from "Glacial Point," or from the summit of the " Three Brothers," there is nothing in this world known to man that can equal the views from "Mount Beatitude" and "Inspiration Point." If, however, it has been determined to return via the Mariposa grove of big trees and Mariposa, --and we emphatically hope that it has, inasmuch as all tourists who can, should arrive one way and depart the other, --these glorious sights can be witnessed on the route homeward, .without an especial visit. On our ride down the valley, almost immediately opposite Pompompasus (the "Three Brothers "), on our left there is upon the face of the mountain a white irregular spot, from which, although of apparently insignificant size, the dSbris covered several acres. Back of this point, high up toward the top, Mr. E. J. Muybridge, in 1868, discovered a remarkable fissure in the wall rock. "It is," he says, " one thousand feet deep, five feet wide at the top and front, and gradually growing narrower as it goes down and back into the mountain. Several stones have fallen into it, and lodged about half way down." Near here can be seen some of the effects of the great storm of Dec. 23, 1867; when the whole valley was abroad foaming river; and rocks weighing many tons were hurled down these mountain torrents with terrible power: the talus when...