An abridgement of the author's journal originally published in pt. 1, "History of the exploration of the canyons of the Colorado," of the report of the Smithsonian Institution: Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and its tributaries.
The epic story of the fastest boat ride in history, on a hand-built dory named the "Emerald Mile," through the heart of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado river.
The author, a Civil War veteran, recounts the scientific expedition he led to explore the Colorado River and describes the hardships and discoveries of the ten-month trip