69 
in a primitive waggon, through a country practically uninhabited, 
so that camping-out requisites had to be conveyed with us. 
Though it was the month of June when the journey was made, 
frequent snow storms were encountered, and much difficulty was 
experienced from the huge snowdrifts that blocked the roads in 
many parts. The region in which the park is situated lies at a 
considerable elevation, the park itself being over 6,000 feet above 
the sea level, while some of the neighbouring mountains—spurs 
of the Rocky mountains—attain a height of 12,000 feet, and are 
covered with perpetual snow. The tract of country which has 
been euphemistically termed a Park, comprises more than 3,000 
square miles, and is situated in the north-west corner of the 
territory of Wyoming. On account of the wonderful natural 
phenomena contained in this district, the United States Congress 
in 1872 decreed that it should in perpetuity be reserved for the 
benefit and enjoyment of the people. ‘‘ Since then surveys have 
been made of the park, and among other objects of interest the 
localities of which have been fixed, we may mention 1500 hot 
springs among which are at least fifty geysers of the first magni- 
tude, any one of which would cast into the shade any other in 
the known world. The region abounds also in picturesque water- 
falls, cafions and lakes, rendering it beyond question the most 
interesting region in the world.” 
The scope of the paper was limited to a description of the few 
objects seen in a sojourn of three days in the park. The first 
visit was paid to the valley of hot springs and geysers. Starting 
from the primitive log-house, that does duty for hotel in the 
Firehole Basin, for a few miles our road lay through marshy flats, 
and then we struck a bare patch whereon no vegetation would 
grow. ‘There were several hot springs here, and the waters being 
impregnated with salts chiefly silicious, the overflowing waters as 
they cool leave a deposit on the ground, and slowly raise that 
part above the surrounding plain. The aspect is very dreary 
and desolate when that has taken place to a great extent, but is 
only a setting which more vividly displays by contrast the beauty 
of those hot springs. The springs vary in size from a few feet 
to 30 or 40 yards in diameter—most of them being 20 to 30 feet 
and irregularly circular. The springs contract in irregular ter- 
races until the deepest part is but a few feet in diameter, and 
looking through the blue translucent water it would appear as if 
vast caverns extended beyond. The walls seem constructed of 
the purest ivory. Arising from the surface are faint clouds of 
steam, while the waters of a few are gently bubbling and boiling. 
There are a few where the deposited salts exhibit a variety of 
colours and the walls then assume the appearance of choicest 
mosaic, while one huge ugly hole is filled with dark and gruesome 
fluid. Other places presented a more awesome and oppressive 
