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Show 184 WESTERN SHOBB OF THE LASS. purpose of encamping. But the mirage was so graft that'we found ourselves much deceived'in the distance. Instead of half a mile, the bushes were more than two miles off; ana* after travelling upward of a mile, I concluded to encamp where we were, and to- go to the fringe of green for wood enough'' to cook with. This was accordingly done, and in our search'we stumbled on two very pretty little streams of fresh, cool water, within a half- mile of the camp, but which, after flowing a short distance, sank in the sand and disappeared. Upon the banks of one of the creeks was a patch of long, dry, matted grass, which had been beaten down by the winter snows. To this I sej . fire, as. a signal to the shore party of our wheueabouts. A huge column of smoke- immediately rbse to the heavens,, and completely answered the purpose. The party, nevertheless, did not get into camp before ten o'clock at night, having been perplexed in the dark by . salt creeks and marshes. There was but little joking or music in Camp to- night, as thje unwearied fiddle had been left in the boat,- and the men were thoroughly tired out. - j • , The shore party, to- day, in running ttair line, crossed. several quite large streams of good fyesh water; and upon the termination of the day'& work, came . upon one, eighty feet wide and ten feet deep, by measurement, and flowing with a full current. AH' of these spring- branches burst forth on the old storm- line of the lake,' but none of tnem ewr enter it. They doubtless take- their rise in the jnountains to the north and north- west, and percolating through the sands, or passing in veins underneath the surface, break forth suddenly into bold streams, with abundance of water, which in a short distance fork and spread out into shallow channels, form a sort of marsh, and are finally altogether absorbed by the sand; long before they reach the lake.. In the channels, and on the inargin of the streams, grow reeds, dagger- grass, and some oat-tail flags, • Numerous insects congregate in- the brackish waters of the marshes,* affording food for plover, gulls, and innumerable waterfowl* These streams afforded the last fresh water that we found on the western shore of the lake. Friday', May 17.- Moved camp, taking with us> in the boats the shore ^ party, who wished to be landed wuth of the marshes- and mud- flats they had waded through yesterday. The flat where we landed was BIZ miles wide, and covered, in many plaoes, with salt. The nearest wood was at a point of bluff which bounded the plain ' to the westward/ Transporting fuel on men's shoulders, this dis- |