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Show 206 SURVEY OF EASTERN SHORE OF THE LAKE. and driven in by the wind. Passing through it, I found it filled with the small black flies, such numbers of which I had noticed yesterday. In the midst of these were flocks of gulls, floating upon the water and industriously engaged in picking them up, precisely as a chicken would pick up grains of corn, and with the same rapidity of motion. We landed at our firBt camp- ground near the box- elder tree, about two hours after sunrise, making twenty- four continuous hours that I had sat at the helm, without a moment's respite. A messenger was despatched to the person in charge of the cattle, with directions to drive up the herd, out of which one was selected and killed.. The rest of the crew were engaged in filling the water- vessels from an excellent spring near the shore. Here I enjoyed the exquisite luxury of washing my face and hands, for the first time in more than two weeks- water being too scarce an article in the camp to allow that privilege to any other person than the cook. About eleven o'clock I had the pleasure of meeting my friend and efficient assistant, Lieutenant Gunnison, whom I found busily engaged in pushing forward the field- work of his portion of the survey, with his accustomed industry and energy. He had completed the survey of the eastern side of the lake, and was at the time engaged in that of Antelope Island. He brought news of the arrival of the first mail this year, and a large packet of letters from home. After concerting measures for meeting on the western shore of the lake, where our surveys were to join, he returned to his camp. Every preparation being made for an early start in the morning, I retired to read my letters and to refresh my weary spirits by repose. Sundayy June 16.- As the party on the flats was nearly out of water when we left them, and the weather was so uncertain as to render the time occupied in our return to them equally so, I determined to leave to- day. Rounding the north point of Antelope Island, we called at the little islet to which we had given the name of Egg Island, to look after our old friends, the gulls and pelicans. The former had hatched out their eggs, and the island was full of little, half- fledged younglings, who fled at our approach, and hid themselves under the first stone they could find. We caught several of them,, and amused ourselves by putting them into the water, when they immediately followed the instinct of their natures, and paddled away with their little black feet most assiduously. One poor fellow, about four inches long, driven by the extremity of his fear, took to the water |