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Show [ 174 J 150 over. The people with the baggage were easily cros~ed in the boat, and \\ c encamped on the left bank where we crosse~ the r_1vcr. A~ sun~et the theunometer was at 7 50, and there was some ram d unng the m~ht, with a thunder storm at a distance. September 5.-Before us was evidently the bed of the lake, being a great sall marsh, perfectly level and bare, whitened in plac.es by saline efllo. rescences, with here and there a pool of water, a~d havmg the appearance of a v0ry level se:1 shore at l~w tide .. Ir~mediate~y along tb? riv~r was a very narrow strip of vegetatwn, conststtng of wtllows, heltanth1, roses, flowerina vines and grass ; bordered on the verge of the great marsh by a fringe ol'singul~r plants, which appear to be a shrubby salicornia, or a genus .allied to it. About 12 miles to the southward was one of those isolated mountains, now <>.ppearing to be a kind of peninsula; and toward~ this we accordingly direcled our course, as it probably afforded a good vtew of the lake; but the dee:pening mud as we advanced forced us to return toward tlle river, and gain the higher ground at the foot of the eastern mountains. II ere we halt· .ed fQr a few minutes at noon, on a beautiful little stream of pure and rc· mark::tbly clear water, with a ben of rock in sil'u, on which was an abun· rlant water plant with a white blossom. There was good grass in the bot· toms; and, amidst a rather luxuriant growtll, its banks were bordered with a large showy plant (eupatorium purpureum,) which 1 here saw for the first time. We named the stream Clear creek. We contiuued our way along the mountain, having found here a broad plaiuly beaten trail, over what was apparently the shore of the lake in the fipring; the ground being high and firm, and the soil excellf'nt and covered with vegetation, among which a leguminous plant (f{lycyrrhiza lepidota ). was a characteristic plant. The ridge here rises abruptly to the height ol about 4,000 feet; its face being very prominently marked witll a massiv.e ·stratum of rose-colored granular quartz, which is evidently an altered sedt· mentary ~o.ck; t.he lines of deposition being very distinct. It is rocky and steep; dt v1ded 1nto several mountains; and the rain in the valley appears to be always snow on their summits at this season. Near a rP.markable rocky point of the mo~ntain, at a large spring of pure water, were several ba ~kberry tre.es, ( celt·tS,) probably a new species, the berries still green ; an~ a short dt~tance farther, thickets of sumach (rhus.) .on the plam here I noticed bl~ckbirds and grouse. In about seven mtles f~·om Clear creek? the trail brought us to a place at the foot of the mountam where there Issued with considerable force ten or twelve hot springs, highly impregnated with salt. In one of these the thermometer stood at 136°, and in another at 132°.5; and the water: "hich spread in pools over the low ground, was colored red.'"' . • An analysi~ of tho red earthy matter deposited in the bed of the stream from the spring8J gtvcs the followmg result: Peroxide of iron - 33.50 Carbonate of magnesia. 2.40 Carbonate of limo 50.43 Sulphate of lime • 2.00 Chloride of sodium 3.4D Silica and alumina • 3.00 Water and loss ~ 5.22 151 [ 174 J At thi's place the trail we had been following turned to the left, apparently with the view of entering a gorge in the mountain, from which issued the principal fork of a large and comparatively well-timbered stream, called Weber's fork. We accordingly turned off towards the lake, and encamped on this river, which was 100 to 150 feet wide, with high banks, and very clear pure water, without the slightest indication of salt. September 6.-Leaving the encampment early, we again directed our course for the peninsular butte across a low shrubb.v plain, crossing in the way a slough-like creek with miry banks, and wooded with thickets of thorn ( craiagus) which were loaded with berries. This time we reached the butte without any difficulty, and, ascending to the summit, immediately at <>ur feet beheld the object of our anxious search-the waters of the Inland Sea, stretching in still and solitary grandeur far beyond the limit of our vision. It was one of the great points of the exploration ; and as we looked eagerly over the lake in the first emotions of excited pleasure, I am doubtful if the followers of Balboa felt more enthusiasm when, from the heights of the Andes, they saw for the first time the great Western ocean. It was certainly a magnificent object, and a noble terminus to this part of our expedition; and to travellers so long shut up among mountain ranges, a sudden view over the expanse of silent waters had in it something sublime. Several large islands raised their high rocky heads out of the waves; but whether or not they were timbered, was still left to our imagination, as the ·distance was too great to determine if the dark hues upon them were woodland or naked rock. During the day the clouds had been gathering black over the mountains to the westward, and, while we were looking, a storm burst down with sudden fury upon the lake, and entirely hid the islands fro~n our view. So far as we could see, along the shores there was not a solttary tree, and but little appearance of grass ; anu on Weber's fork, a few miles below our last encampment, the timber was gathered into groves, and then dhmppeared entirely. As this appe<1red to be the nearest point to the lake where a suitable camp could Le found , we directed our course to one of the groves, where we found a handsome encampment, with good grass and an abundance of rushes, ( equisetumhyemale.) At snnset, the thermometer was at 55° ; the e'vening clear and calm, with some cumuli. September 7 .-The morning was calm and clear, with a temperature at sunrise of 39°.5. The day was spent in active preparation for our intended voyage Ol} the lake. On the edge of the stream a favorable spot was, selected in a grove, and, felling ~be timber, we made a strong cm·al, or ho~se pen, for the animal~, and a little fort for the people who were to remam. We were now probably in the country of the Utah Indians, though none reside upon the lake. 'fhe India -rubber boat was repaireu with prepared cloth and gum, and filled with air, in readiness for the next day. The provisions which Carson had brouo·ht with him being now exhausted, an.d our stock reduced to a small quantity of roots, I determined to retain Wtth me only a sufficient number of men for the execution of our design ; and accordingly seven were sent back to Fort Hall, under the guidance of ~"'ran~ois Lajeunesse, , ... ·ho, having been for many years a trapper in the coun.try, was considered an experienced mountaineer. Though they were provtded ·with good horses, and the road was a remarkably plain one of ·only four days' journey for a horseman, they became bewildered, (as we aftea:wanls learned,) and, losing their way, wandered about the country in parttes of one or two reachina the fort about a week afterwards. Some ' 0 |
