Again  words  fail-  to  give  any  idea  of  the  view  to  be
gained  from  this  eyrie,  the  more  especially  as  all  painters,
photographers,  and  draughtsmen  fail  in  giving  the  idea
of  profound  depths  uncontrasted  with  heights,  and  here
all  is  depth,  except,  to  be  sure,  the  crests  of  the  Sierras
upon  the  horizon,  and  the  splendid  South  Dome,  North
Dome,  Cloud's  Rest,  Cap  of  Liberty,  Mount  Star  King,
and  the  other  summits,  whose  level,  or  near  it,  has  been
attained ;  but  below  are  to  be  seen  great  trees  two  hun-


A   CLEFT  iy  THE  PLATEAU  OF  THE  SIERRAS.  239

dred  feet  in  height,  dwarfed  to  shrubs,  houses  like  peas,  a
bright  speck  like  a  diamond,  which  is  Mirror  Lake,  a
thread,  which  is  the  Merced  River,  and  small  checker
board  squares  of  verdure,  which  are  the  orchards  and
gardens  of  Larnar's  and  Ilutching's  claims.
Opposite  lay  the  Mountain  of  the  Royal  Arches,  or  as
the  Indians  more  significantly  called  it,  To-coy-ae,  the
Baby-Basket-Shade,  for  the  silvery-gray  face  of  the  rock
is  cut  in  regular  sweeping  curves,  just  like  the  top  of  a
Piute  baby -basket.  A  little  house  has  just  been  com
pleted  here,  where  one  may  dine,  or,  if  one  chooses,  spend
the  night.  An  additional  climb,  on  horseback,  of  a  thou
sand  feet  brings  one  to  Sentinel  Dome  ;  this  is  the  hard
est  part  of  the  ride,  as  there  is  hardly  any  trail,  but  the
horses  pick  their  way,  in  some  places  very  steep,  among
the  stones  strewing  the  dome-like  summit,  until  a  circle  is
reached  of  deep  snow,  and  a  gnarled  and  twisted  old  tree
which  marks  the  crest.
