Breaking the Wilderness--Wanderings of the Trappers and Fur Traders--General Ashley in Green River Valley, 1824--Pattie along the Grand Canyon, 1826--Lieut.

Hardy, R.N., in a Schooner on the Lower Colorado, 1826--Jedediah Smith, Salt Lake to San Gabriel, 1826--Pattie on the Lower Colorado in Canoes, 1827-28.
As the "sweet Afton" of old gently flowing among its green braes compares with the fierce Colorado, so do those earnest padres who so faithfully tried to plant their cross in the waste places, as sketched in the chapter just closed with the martyrdom of Garces, compare with the new set of actors that now appear, as the development of this drama of the wilderness continues.

The former fitted well into the strange scenery; they became apart of it; they fraternised with the various tribes native to the land, and all things together went forward with pictorial harmony.

They were like a few mellow figures blended skilfully into the deep tones of an ancient canvas.

But now the turbulent spirit of the raging river itself pervades the new-comers who march imperiously upon the mighty stage with the heavy tread of the conqueror, out of tune with the soft old melody; temporising with nothing; with a heedless stroke, like the remorseless hand of Fate, obliterating all obstacles to their progress.