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Show 180 NORTH END OF THE LAKE. over a rough, and in many places almost impassable cliff, to the top of this towering peak; and we were no little rejoiced when it was accomplished. Having built our station, we set out on our return to camp, with a fair wind, which, however, soon died away, and the tired crew were obliged to take to their oars. When within two or three miles of camp, a most furious gale of wind suddenly broke down upon us from the north- west, which soon raised such a sea as rendered the progress of our heavy boat so slow that we did not reach home until ten o'clock, wearied, cold, and hungry. But hot coffee soon restored us, and we enjoyed a deep and most welcome slumber. Friday, May 10.- Moved again to- day, with the intention of encamping at the head of this arm of the lake, but the water became so shallow that not even the skiff would float, and we had to resort to the usual process of transporting beds and baggage on our backs to the shore. Here we found that we had still half a mile farther to go to reach the nearest artemisia- bushes, which have now become our sole dependence for firewood. The bushes afforded us, it is true, the means of making fire for cooking, but at the same time they gave shelter to shoals of gnats, that drove us almost distracted. We are now near the head of the northern extremity of the lake, and expect soon to turn our faces to the south, along its western shore. The character of the country has changed somewhat : the hills in the vicinity of the lake have become lower, and abound less in rocks, although the projecting points still consist of that material. Range behind range is seen to the westward across the water, while to the northward the ridges seem to be at first low, but rising in the distance, one above the other, like the seats of an amphitheatre. The following day we erected a large station on a hill south of the camp. The two last nights we have been regaled by the varied notes of a little brown bird, the only songster I had yet heard in the valley. It sang all night; but I in vain attempted to secure it as a specimen. A couple of blackbirds, also, hung around the camp, and enlivened us with an occasional note. Abundance of a fine small pepper- grass grew in the sandy soil, which, in the absence of other vegetables, was very refreshing. Monday, May 13.- Finding it impossible for the boats to advance any farther north, on account of the extensive flats occupying the whole of this end of the lake, I determined to cross to the |