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Show H4ZINE88 OF THE ATl^ OSPHERB. 201, from what quarter the wind may come, nor how great its force, the- air continue* to be hazy, so that, it is impossible to see any distant olyect with distinctness. Whether it, be. owing to the elevation and consequent rapid evaporation from the. lake, • I cannot gay, but it occasions great vexation and delay in the observations upon distant objects, and- renders the work liable to uncertainty and error. " About two P. M. a most furious gust came up from the south- west, , with heavy thunder, and a copioos shower of rain and hail- stonfcs as large as haael- nuts. The . squall lasted about twfenty minutes, forcing the water, up- over the beach* overthrowing, the tents a second time, Completely flooding us with, brine, and forcing us to rer pitch our camp higher up the . beach. In the course. of an hour a fresh gust came up from the west, but it soon . hauled into the north,, and blew wfth fury all the bight. The weather was qtdte ^ cold, and' the wind piercmg, so, that we were obliged to bank up the bottoms " of the tents,, inside and put, with, large stones and sand, to, keep them, from being blown away, and to exclude the , chilling blast, which rendered great- doats indispensable ta comfort.. The. yawl is doubtless out on the lake to- night, and the , crew exposed to all the inclemency of the storm. Tue* ddyy June 11.- The gale still continues, the temperature resembles that of an October morning much more than one in, June. Closed tents at breakfast, and tjie survey party running their line buttoned up to the throat. The morning is bright and clear with flying clouds. The haze, however, envelop* the sides of the distant mountains in a mist which renders their outlines dis- ' torted and indistinct. The yawl arrived in the course of the morning under oars, having dragged her anchor and drifted to leeward. . The night upon th^ lake, in the open boat, was any thing but ' agreeable: the gale had raised a heavy sea, whieh frequently broke over the boWs, drenching every one to the skin,. wetting their blankets; and rendering sleep impossible. They had reached the promontory on Sunday night, but, in the darkness, had struck it too f » r north. Yesterday they clothed the station, ( which is how quit? Visible,) filled up their water- vessels/ and were about leaving the springs when the storm overtook tbemr They had very little hfrfl, although in camp it fell very abundantly, they represent - the Jake, as being much, higher than when we were last there; . owing doubtless to the increased melting of the snows in the mountains, consequent upon the advance of the season. ^ b$ water, |
