220 A LOTELY TALURT 



The soda water is fully as good as any manufactured for espp.nial use 

 and sparkles and foams with equal eflervescence. This spring, though at 

 present cool, is said to have been formerly quite the reveig*?. Some twen 

 ty years since, the heat was sufficient to cook fiesh in an haif hour's time, 

 if submerged in its waters. 



The Arapahos regard this phenomenon with awe, and venorate it as the 

 manifestation of the immediate presence of tlie Great Spirit, They call it 

 the Medicine Foumain, and seldom neglect to bestow their frifts upon it 

 whenever an opportunity is presented. 



These offerings generally consist of robes, blankets, arrows, bows. 

 jmives, beads, moccasins, &.C., which they eit/ier throw into the witer oi 

 oang upon the surrounding trees. Sometimes a whole village will visit 

 the place for the purpose of paying their united regard t;> tliis sacred 

 fountain. 



The seceiiery of the vicinity is truly magnificent. A valley several 

 yards in width heads at the springs, overloolSng which from the west in 

 almost perpendicular ascent tower the lofty summits of I^ike's Peak, piercing 

 the clouds and revelling in eternal snow, at an altitude of 12,500 feet 

 above the level of the sea. 



This valley opens eastward, and is walled in upon the right and left, at 

 the mountains' base, by a stretch of high table land, surmounted by oaks 

 end stately pines, with now and then an interval displaying a luxuriant 

 coating of gross. The soil is a reddish loam, and very ricli. The trees 

 which skirt tiie creek as it traces its way from the fountain aie generally 

 l?ee from under-brush, and show almost as much regularity of pi sition as 

 If planted by the hand of art. A lusty growth of vegetation is sustained 

 &mong them to tlieir very trunks, which is garnished by wild flowers, tliat, 

 CiUring the summer months, invest the whole scene with an onchantraeni 

 |;aciiliar to itself. 



The climate too is far milder in this than in adjoining regions, even of 

 % more southern latitude. 'Tis here " summer first unfolds her rcbes, and 

 •^re tlie longest tarries." The grass, continuing green the entire winter, 

 feere first feels the genial touch of spring. Snow seldom remain? upon the 

 gromid to exceed a single day, even in tlie severest weather, while the 

 Sieighboring hills and prairies present their white mantlings for v/eeks in 

 iuccession. 



A« the creek emerges from the mountains, it increases in size by the ac- 

 cession of several tributaries, and the valley also expands to a width of 



eovered a piece of wood ; and, though probably not a fair test, it will afford ♦h* 



readeir some idea of ita mineral properties : 



Carbonate of lime ■ • • • • • W, 25 



Carbonate of mai^esia ^ • • • • 1, 21 



Snlpliate of lime 1 



Chloride of calcium S . . , . - 83 



Chloride of raAffnena i 



Siliea 1» M 



V«ntable mfOter ...... 90 



MflMon and km • • 4, 61 



100, W 



