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Show 100 RECONNOISSANCE AROUND GREAT SALT LAKE. As soon as they perceived the rest . of our party moving toward them from the plain, the whole band, consisting of some six or eight men and half a dozen squaws, retreated incontinently up the mountain, and in a few minutes totally disappeared, nor did we see them again. As we continued to advance, we passed through their encampment, which they had abandoned in such haste that they left every thing as it was * at the moment of their flight- the kettle was boiling over the fire, and a good gun rested against a bush. We left all untouched, and did not even dismount, as we knew they were watching us from behind the rocks, and I was desirous of convincing them of our peaceable disposition. Following down the eastern base of the promontory for about two miles, we encamped on a small spring- branch, coming down from the mountains, furnishing very tolerable water and plenty of grass- refreshment most welcome to our jaded and famished animals, which had not had a full meal for nearly two days. At the Indian camp there was a spring, but the water, although abundant, was salt and unfit for use. Temperature of the spring, 84°. The mountain or m$ in promontory seemed to be composed of lunestone, altered shales, and sandstones: it rises from fifteen hundred to two thousand feet. Monday, October 22.- Ther. at sunrise 25°. Morning clear and calm. The Salt Lake, which lay about half a mile to the eastward, was oovered by immense flocks of wild geese and ducks, among which many swans were seen, being distinguishable by their size and the whiteness of their plumage. I had seen large flocks of these birds before, in various parts of our country, and especially upon the Potomac, but never did I behold any thing like the immense numbers here congregated together. Thousands of acres, as far as the eye could reach, seemed literally covered with them, presenting a scene of busy, animated cheerfulness, in most graceful contrast with the dreary, silent solitude by which we were immediately surrounded. Our course until noon was south, along the base of the high promontory which puts into the lake from the north. On our left, for about three miles from our encampment, was an isolated knob or hill, separated from the main range by a grassy plain. It consisted of limestone and slaty shales, in the former of which were some small caves. The rocks were thrown up at a very high angle, and in some places were perpendicular, and rested, as far as could be ascertained, on a primitive formation below. Toward the southern end of the |