54 



tlement of Homer, aud, finding their way either ou the surface or under ground, to a point some 

 four or five miles below West Point; this, theu, may be looked upon as the source of what might 

 be termed the Eastern Branch. The main stream has its confluence with the Rio Yirgen about IrJ- 

 miles below Saint Thomas, the greater part of the water having been absorbed in the excessive aud 

 careless irrigation of the different settlements. 



In the summer season the water remains warm for the whole distance. The rapidity of the 

 current atul the looseness of the soil of its banks give rise to the muddy appearance ; hence the name. 



The volume of the flow taken at a point before any of its waters are used for irrigation, will 

 at least reach .5,000 inches; this amount is carried in a narrow and deep channel, the bed of which 

 has quite a declivity ; hence the great strength of the curreut. The course is about south-southeast, 

 and its length from Muddy Springs is about thirty-two or thirtj'three miles, flowing for the most 

 part through a narrow valley, surrounded on either hand by a perfect desert of low sand-hills, 

 broken earth, and stony mesa, in the background of which appear the dark and .somber mountains 

 that rule the horizon supreme. 



A large number of the creeks are formed from the melting of the snows, which, among the iiigher 

 ranges, feed a continuous stream for all seasons of the year. Others have their source in mountain 

 springs of pure and limpid water. With hardly any exception the character of the water is very pure, 

 except here aiul there it is rendered stagnant in pools, or alkaline, on account of infiltration from 

 the banks. It is very rare that one finds fish in any of these mountain-streams. A few small trout 

 were found to tlie eastward of the Snake range. This does not apply, however, to streams flowing 

 from the Humboldt range, that are numerously stocked with an excellent variety of mountain- 

 trout. 



It is believed that the waters of the Muddy contain no fish. 



The great variety of springs, as regards their chemical constituents and thermal conditions, is 

 truly surprising, as often in the same valley, within a few miles of each other, will be found those 

 of the purest and clearest water, and others having various mineral indications affected by a high 

 temperature. This was noticed especially in Steptoe Valley. The most remarkable of the thermal 

 springs noted is the one at Elko, which, near the summit of a slight sand mesa, comes boiling out of 

 the earth and flows into a reservoir apparently eroded for its reception. The water shows indica- 

 tions of sulphur quite largely, and doubtless comes from a great dei)tli. 



From springs of this class to those showing themselves in Pahranagat and Meadow Valleys, there 

 are found all varieties, some having fpiite high temperature and no mineral, and others impreg- 

 nated with minerals and but slightly above the ordinary temperature. 



The warm spring near the stage-road, and about midway between Elko and Hamilton, is a 

 characteristic si)ecimen of the former sort. A continual mist rises from the surface, even in the 

 heat of the day, and the intermittent thermal action of the waters can be seen at various points of 

 the bottom, the water being very clear. Strange enough, there were large numbers of small-sized 

 fish playing about in these waters, similar in character to the ordinary chub-sucker, but smaller in 

 .size. The few hours permitted for our stay at the place did not allow of getting specimens. 



The celebrated Vegas Springs are of pure, clear water, very slightly above the surrounding 

 temperature. Tiieir bottoms are a whitish quicksaiul that continually changes, continued pressure 

 of the water forcing itself to the surface, which now and theu in breaking through makes a revolu- 

 tion, similar in appearance to what I had imagined for an intermittent flow of lava from an active 

 volcano. They are not large in area, but the volume of water will reach as high as 1,500 inches. 

 What are called "seep springs" are now and theu found, generally through the aid of Indians, at 

 points where one would never dream of tiieir presence, especially when discovered, as they often 

 are, among basaltic foothills, completely desiccated and destitute of vegetation. These, however, 

 attord so slight an amount of water that they canimt be depended upon for any exigencies of the 

 inarch where many animals are in the party, and are simidy reservoirs for the natural moisture that 

 is found along the .seams of the rocks composing tht' mountains. Many springs ai))iearing at the 

 base of the foot-hills are occasioned by the melting of the snows on the mountains above, that, 

 flowing a little distance, disappear, to show themselves again where the surface of the underlying 

 rock approaches more nearly that of the soil. 



