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Show EGG ISLAOT>- WATKR- FOwiu- CARBINGTON ISLAND. 161 < we moved along in all the dignity and complaisance of a first- rate, persuaded that no other craft of equal pretensions had ever floated on ^ he bosom1 . of these solitary waters. After no little consultation, she tfas finally called " The Salicornia," or " Flow? r of Salt Lake,'\ which euphonious appellation thq men very soon dispensed with for the more homely . but more convenient one of " The Sally." ' A small skiff had been procured as a consort to our frigate, and after being fitted up and caulked, proved a. very valuable addition to our marine.. * Tuesdayj April 9.- Morning very cool.; Heavy blow ail last night from the north,. Sent a team, to the city for an additional supply of. provisions and equipage. Started with the boat and nine men to explore apd erect stations on the islands in the western portion of the lake, taking two days' provisions and water, and a blanket for each man. Bounding the northern point of Antelope Island, we cante to a small rocky islet, about a mile west of it, which was destitute of vegetation of any kind, not even a blade of grass being found upon it. It was literally covered with wild waterfowl; ducks, white brandt, blue herons* cormorants, and innuiqerable flocks of gulls, which had congregated here to build their nests. > Ve found great numbers of these, built of sticks and rushes, in the crevices of the rock, and supplied ourselves, without scruple, with as mapy eggs as we needed, principally those of the herons, it being tod early in the season for most of the other waterfowl. Having erected a station on this island, we started for another, apparently about twenty. miles to the westward. The wind was fres^, and we carried away the step of one of our masts in ' the blow. The crew were all entirely unaccustomed to the water, and were no little alarmed at the . hqavy swell caused by the gale; which was much greater than I had anticipated, and made most of them quite sea- sick. We arrived at the desired point without accident, and in time to erect a station upon th$ summit of the island before dark. The island was " between six and Seven hundred feet high, and six and arhalf miles in circumference. As we ascended the slope of the- hill, which is much more gentle than that of any other island in the . lake, small rolled stones, sand, and ^ gravel are first met with,, then slate, covering the ground in broken laminae; and the summit consisted of ledges of excellent roofing- slate, of which any quantity can - be obtained. The latter was filled in places with cubes pf bisulphuret of iron, which frequently penetrated several 11 |
