Havingthreadedthemazesofthischannelforsomehours，thegloomdeepeningeverymoment，asharpandunexpectedturnofthevesselbroughtitsuddenly，asifdroppedfromheaven，intoacircularbasinofveryconsiderableextentwhencomparedwiththewidthofthegorge。Itwasabouttwohundredyardsindiameter，andgirtinatallpointsbutonethatimmediatelyfrontingthevesselasitenteredbyhillsequalingeneralheighttothewallsofthechasm，althoughofathoroughlydifferentcharacter。Theirsidesslopedfromthewater’sedgeatanangleofsomeforty-fivedegrees，andtheywereclothedfrombasetosummitnotaperceptiblepointescapinginadraperyofthemostgorgeousflower-blossoms；scarcelyagreenleafbeingvisibleamongtheseaofodorousandfluctuatingcolor。Thisbasinwasofgreatdepth，butsotransparentwasthewaterthatthebottom，whichseemedtoconsistofathickmassofsmallroundalabasterpebbles，wasdistinctlyvisiblebyglimpses
thatistosay，whenevertheeyecouldpermititselfnottosee，fardownintheinvertedheaven，theduplicatebloomingofthehills。Ontheselattertherewerenotrees，norevenshrubsofanysize。Theimpressionswroughtontheobserverwerethoseofrichness，warmth，color，quietude，uniformity，softness，delicacy，daintiness，voluptuousness，andamiraculousextremenessofculturethatsuggesteddreamsofanewraceoffairies，laborious，tasteful，magnificent，andfastidious；butastheeyetracedupwardthemyriad-tintedslope，fromitssharpjunctionwiththewatertoitsvagueterminationamidthefoldsofoverhangingcloud，itbecame，indeed，difficultnottofancyapanoramiccataractofrubies，sapphires，opals，andgoldenonyxes，rollingsilentlyoutofthesky。
Thevisiter，shootingsuddenlyintothisbayfromoutthegloomoftheravine，isdelightedbutastoundedbythefullorbofthedecliningsun，whichhehadsupposedtobealreadyfarbelowthehorizon，butwhichnowconfrontshim，andformsthesoleterminationofanotherwiselimitlessvistaseenthroughanotherchasmlikeriftinthehills。
Butherethevoyagerquitsthevesselwhichhasbornehimsofar，anddescendsintoalightcanoeofivory，stainedwitharabesquedevicesinvividscarlet，bothwithinandwithout。Thepoopandbeakofthisboatarisehighabovethewater，withsharppoints，sothatthegeneralformisthatofanirregularcrescent。Itliesonthesurfaceofthebaywiththeproudgraceofaswan。Onitserminedfloorreposesasinglefeatherypaddleofsatin-wood；butnooarsmenorattendantistobeseen。Theguestisbiddentobeofgoodcheer
thatthefateswilltakecareofhim。Thelargervesseldisappears，andheisleftaloneinthecanoe，whichliesapparentlymotionlessinthemiddleofthelake。Whileheconsiderswhatcoursetopursue，however，hebecomesawareofagentlemovementinthefairybark。Itslowlyswingsitselfarounduntilitsprowpointstowardthesun。Itadvanceswithagentlebutgraduallyacceleratedvelocity，whiletheslightripplesitcreatesseemtobreakabouttheivorysideindivinestmelody-seemtooffertheonlypossibleexplanationofthesoothingyetmelancholymusicforwhoseunseenoriginthebewilderedvoyagerlooksaroundhiminvain。