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Show BEAR- RIVER BAT. 166 boiled up from beneath, through numerous small orifices in the sand, and to hare spread itself over the surface of the flat, in a semifluid state, to the thickness of from half an inch to three inches, with various diameters from three inches to a foot. The exposed surface has been indurated slightly by the action of the sun, and has formed a thin, tough, and slightly elastic covering or skin, which retains the substance within in a moist state for a long time. By long exposure, these lumps seem to dry up entirely, although, upon removing them, they are found still to be supplied with moisture from the small orifice or tube in the centre beneath, which latter apparently extends to a considerable depth in the ground. Having erected the station, we returned to camp, which we did not reach until nearly midnight, all hands being completely worn out by incessant labour of nearly eighteen hours at the oars, and in wading through mud and water. The distance passed over amounted to about thirty miles, and the exposure in the water, at this early season, was peculiarly severe. The team from town, with provisions, & c, returned in the afternoon. Friday, April 12.- Broke up the camp on Antelope Island, and started for the north end of the lake, to complete that portion of the survey as early in the season as possible. It had already been foreseen that one great obstacle to the rapid prosecution of the work would be the want of fresh water, and means had accordingly been provided for carrying in the boats as much as was possible. Such was the limited means of transportation, that a supply for more than two or three days could not be carried without overloading the boats, already burdened with camp- equipage and provisions. Being uncertain of finding any water at our next contemplated encampment, all the vessels were filled. After passing Fremont's Island, the water of the lake continued, as on yesterday, very shallow, the deepest being six and a- half feet. We were now in the Bear- River Bay, and the shallowness of the water is no doubt owing to the deposite of immense quantities of alluvion brought down by that river at every freshet, in a state of suspension. After coasting along the eastern slope of the promontory range, which puts into the lake from the north, and seeking in vain for a point at which to land, we were at length forced to drag the boat to within a mile and a- half of the shore, where we left her stuck fast in the mud. The tents, water, and provisions were placed in |