l walls, which, in
some places, rise to a height of more than a mile above the surface of
the water.

The largest and most noted of these vast gorges is the Grand Canon,
which extends a distance of more than two hundred miles. The height of
the walls of this canon varies from four thousand to seven thousand
feet.

The river, as it runs through it, is from fifty to three hundred feet
wide. So swift is the current, that it is almost impossible to float a
boat down the stream without having it dashed to pieces against the
rocky walls on either side.

The first descent through these canons was made in 1867, from a point on
Grand River, about thirty miles above its junction with Green River.

Three men were prospecting for gold, and being attacked by Indians and
one of their number killed, the other two decided to attempt the descent
of the river, rather than retrace their steps through a country where
Indians were numerous.

They constructed a raft of a few pieces of drift-wood, and having
secured their arms and provisions, commenced their journey down the
stream.

A few days afterward, while the raft was descending a cataract, one of
the men was drowned and all the provisions were washed overboard.

The third man, hemmed in by the walls of the canon, continued the
journey alone amid great perils from cataracts, rocks, and whirlpools.

For ten days he pursued, his lonely way, tasting food but twice during
the whole time. Once he obtained a few green pods and leaves from bushes
growing along the stream, and the second time from some friendly
Indians.

At last he succeeded in reaching Callville in safety, after having
floated several hundred miles.

* * * * *

LESSON LXXIII.

pro por'tions, _relations of parts to each other_.

in te'ri or, _the inside_.

al a bas'ter, _a kind of whitish stone_.

chasm, _a deep opening_.

a're a, _any surface, as the floor of a room_.

an'cient, _belonging to past ages_.

un ex am'pled, _without a similar case_.

co los'sal, _of great size_.

feat'ure, _any thing worthy of notice_.

dra'per y, _hangings of any kind_.

o ver awed', _held in a state of fear_.

sur pass'ing, _exceeding others_.

* * * * *

NATURAL WONDERS OF AMERICA.

PART II.

THE MAMMOTH CAVE.

In the year 1809, a hunter named Hutchins, while pursuing a bear in
Edmondson County, Kentucky, was surprised to