OCR Text |
Show IKON ORE- ANCIENT LAKB, SHORE. 107 Old decayed wigwams, constructed of willows, indicated that this spot had long been a. favourite place of resort for the Ind^ ns, for the same reason* doubtlegs, which rendered it so welcome to ourselves. On the Summit, of 9 ridge south- west of our halting- place, large masses of magnetic iron ore were discovered, some of which were partially encased in basaltic rock. In the ravine whenoe the spring broke out, were found pebbles of alabaster, obsidian, and other rocks, apparently the result of the disintegration of beds of con-glomer& tej none of wjrich, however, was seen in plaoe. Saturday, October ? 7.- Ther.- at sunrise, 35°. Resuming our journey, we took a course south by east, which led us past the ridge upon which we had halted two nights before. The forma* tion was porous trap, and the direction of the. ridge north by. west and south by east. We then passed along the base of a range of low hills, composed apparently of trap and basalt. After travelling ten miles, we came to a range of higher hills extending northwest and south- east. Here the dark limestone was again observed, hut the stratification could not be ascertained. We then- passed, in a southerly direction, through deep sand, along what at one time had been the beach of the lake, as drift- wood was frequently seen lying on the tfands that stretch out to the eastward for many miles. In one instance a drifted cotton- wood log was. seen, lying near what had evidently been the water- line of the lake, aa thick as the body of a man; On our right was a high ridge or promontory, with a naitow bottom sleeping down to the edge of the flat. The soil here w^ s not so clayey as heretofore, being composed in many places of calcareous sand and decomposed' conglomerate. Some masses of the latter were seen, resembling pxactly that met with on the eastern { side- of the promontory range putting out into the lake. The country to- day has been similar to that passed over previously-^ dry, barren, and entirely destitute of water. We dug a well some five feet deep on the edge of the flat, which fcopn filled with water* The nudes crowded at- ound the hole, and seemed to watch the procees of our labour, as if sensible of the object of our exertions, but upon tasting the water, refused to drink, although they had been travelling the whole day without a drop. Day's march, about sixteen miles.. Sunddyj. October 38.- Our little stock of water had become, so reduced that we w/ ere compelled to forego our cofiee this morning, and the most rigid economy in the use of the* former was strictly enforced. We were on the road very early, . and followed for seve- |