Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/820

 Y92 YOSEMITE by walls of clay, often including much farm land. The houses are generally square, built of clay, and thatched with straw. Ilorin, the largest city, carries on an extensive com- merce. The surface of the country is undu- lating, averaging about 1,000 ft. above the sea ; the N". part is hilly. Much of the coun- try is covered with forests of gigantic trees, with a dense underwood, through which paths not more than 1 ft. wide are cut for caravans. The Yoruba race are of a clear brown com- plexion, with features rather European than negro. They are perhaps the most industri- ous and intelligent native Africans, and are often good mechanics. The principal article of export is palm oil, which they exchange for powder, brandy, and coarse European fabrics. The people are mostly heathen, but many of those who have been subdued by the Foo- lahs have become Mohammedans. Among the others Christianity has made some progress, and a Christian mission has been established at Ibadan. See " Seventeen Years in the Yoruba Country," from the journals and letters of Anna Hinderer (London, 1872). YOSEMITE, a valley in Mariposa co., Califor- nia, through which winds the Merced river, Tosemite Valley. about 155 m. E. hy S. of San Francisco, un- equalled for the grandeur of its scenery and the magnificence of its waterfalls. It is nearly in the centre of the state N. and S., and just midway between the E. and W. bases of the Sierra Nevada, here a little more than 70 m. wide. It is nearly level, about 6 m. long by m. to 1 m. wide, and nearly a mile in per- pendicular depth below the general level of the adjacent region. Its general direction is N. E. by E. and S. W. by W., nearly at right angles with the general trend of the moun- tains; its elevation above the sea is 3,950 ft. Its granite walls are nearly vertical ; their color is a light gray, reflecting brilliantly white in the sunlight, occasionally varied with veins of a brighter or deeper hue. In places stripes of a darker color, gray, brown, and black, are produced by the Sowing down of water carry- ing organic matter. Various species of trees and plants occur in the valley. In winter it is inaccessible, except on snow shoes ; in summer the nights are cool, but the thermometer al- most always rises above 80 in the middle of the day in June and July. There are several hotels for the accommodation of tourists. The valley is reached by stage or stage and horse- back (about 90 m.) from Merced, Milton, and Oakdale, on branches of the Central Pacific railroad. The principal objects of interest will be described proceed- ing up the valley. The first on the right is the Bridal Veil fall, formed by a creek of the same name, which is precipitated over the cliffs in one leap of 630 ft. perpendicular upon a slope, down which it rushes in a series of cas- cades for a perpendicular distance of nearly 800 ft. The effect from the valley is as of a vertical fall of 900 ft., the base being concealed by trees. The column of water sways to and fro in the wind, seeming in the distance to flutter like a white veil. A little higher up is Cathedral rock, a prominent and massively sculptured pile of granite, the summit of which is 2,660 ft. above the valley. Above. this are the "Spires," isolated col- umns of granite at least 500 ft. high, standing out from, but con- nected at the base with, the walls of the valley. Still further up a point of rocks projects into the valley, terminating in a slender mass of granite somewhat resem- bling an obelisk. This is known as Sentinel rock. Its entire height is 3,043 ft. ; the obelisk form con- tinues down for 1,000 ft. or more from the summit, below which the rock is united with the wall of the valley. A short distance above is Glacier point, from which one of the finest views in the valley may be obtained. Back of Sentinel rock is Sentinel dome, 4,150