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Show 160 . KORTH SKD OF Ttt* LAKE. over a rough, and in many places almoftt impassable cliff, to the top of this towering peak; . anid we were ho 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 werd bbliged td take to their oars.' When within two or three miles of campra 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 hbt coffee so& n restored us, and we enjoyed a deep and most welcome slumber: • Friday, May 10.- Moved again to- dny, 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 ahnost distracted. We are now near the head of the northern extremity of tie lake, and expect soon to turn our faces to the tiouth, along its western shore. The character of the country has changed sdme* what: the hills in the vicinity Df the lake have become lower, and abound less in rocks, although the projecting points still consist 6f 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 ah 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 * iot « s of a little brown bird, the only songster I had yet heard in thfc valley. It 6ang all night; but I in vain attempted to secure it us » 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, 1 determined to cross to the |
