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HERE AND THERE IN AMERICA 
valley, entering by the Mariposa trail. The length of the 
valley or cleft is nine miles ; its average width three-fourths 
of a mile. 
Riding up the valley for five miles, past Bridal Vail 
(all (on the brook entering the Merced from the south, 
above Inspiration Point), Cathedra] Tocks, and the Sentinel, 
we dismounted and established our headquarters at 
Hutchings’, Thisisa two-story frame-house, with interior 
walls of “ soft finish,” a local term, in contradistinetion 
to plastering of “ hard finish,” and signifying only curtains 
of white muslin for partitions. They compel guests who 
don’t wish to give magic-lantern exhibitions, to extinguish 
their candles before disrobing ; but afford rarest facilities 
for general conversation after every one has gone to 
bed. 
Hutchings and his family regaled us on the fat of the 
land and the fruit of the water—--sweet milk and SaVOouUry 
trout. In winter the sun rises upon them at one o’clock 
p.m., and sets two hours later. Then they receive mails 
and news from the outside world once a week, through 
adventurous Indians, who cross the dangerous mountain 
3nows, twenty feet deep, to Coulterville or Mariposa. 
In front of Hutchings’, runs the Merced fresh from the 
Sierras. Delightful and exhilarating, though a little chilly 
for the summer, it is so perfectly transparent as to cheat 
the eye, and beguile beyond his depth any one attempting 
to wade it. Crossing it by a rustic log bridge, we are in 
A Smooth, level meadow of tall grass, variegated with 
myriads of wild flowers, including primroses of yellow