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Show SPRHTG VALLEY. 11T tended northward to the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake, and was covered with grass, the first we had seen since leaving Pilot Peak. It was shut in toward the south by a range of comparatively low hills, connecting the two mountain ranges that formed its eastern and western boundaries. A direct course could not be taken for this point, owing to numerous springs, which rendered the valley in that direction marshy and wholly impassable. We were consequently forced many miles to the southward, and obliged to make a circuit of more than a semicircle to gain the opposite side. We followed down the western base of the mountain for two or three miles, passing a fine spring, with good grass, near which we encamped for the night, among some dwarf cedars, that both furnished us with fuel and afforded a protection against the wind, which blew fresh and cold from the north- west. Ther. at sunset, 43°. Tuesday, November 6.- Ther. at sunrise, 80°. Continued our journey in a northerly direction, along the western base of the mountain, for twelve miles, when we reached its northern extremity, which was about a mile and a- half wide, and terminated in bold escarpments five or six hundred feet high. One of these resembled, in a remarkable manner, a huge castle, the vertical walls of which were not less than three hundred feet in height. Before reaching this point of the mountains, I remarked, on our f left, in the middle of the valley, a curious, isolated mass of rocks, resembling a small fortification or redoubt: it was surrounded by marshy meadow- land, and could, in case of need, be defended by a small force against almost any number of Indians. Numerous springs broke out from the mountain and at the edge of the prairie; but they were all saline, with a temperature of 74°, and totally unfit to drink. To this place we gave the name of " Spring Valley." Near the point of the mountain was a very large spring, which discharged its waters northward into the lake. The water was very salt, nauseous^ and bitter, with a temperature of 70°; notwithstanding which it swarmed with innumerable small fish, and seemed to be a favourite resort for pelicans and gulls. In a shallow ravine near our morning camp, limestone was found cropping out, with a dip of 80° to the north- west. This rock was seen as we followed the range, appearing at the spurs; and dikes of trap were observed, forming peaks farther back up the mountain-* side. The ridge gradually became less elevated as we proceeded toward the point, where the stratified rocks ( limestone and shales) were found in a horizontal position. Along the northern termina- |