10 



In the evening we experimented practically on the benefits 

 and efficacy of the hot sulphur spring near the house, and 

 were delighted. Its temperature was 150 F. 



JULY ii, WEDNESDAY. 



Leaving Clark's, we soon came to a division in the road, 

 which, a sign told us, was the way to the much-sought-for San 

 Juan country. The road looked well worn. We had frequent- 

 ly passed, since leaving Colorado Springs, the teams of travel- 

 lers who were slowly going to and from that Mecca of the 

 gold-hunter. We reached Fairplay at eleven ; and M. staying 

 on the site of an old building whose elevation was known, L. 

 went on to Alma in order to make a station at that place, pre- 

 paratory to measuring several mountains in that region. This 

 work occupied the rest of the day. The town of Alma is 

 considered the highest mountain town in the State, being, 

 according to our measurement, 10,381.5 feet at the St. Nich- 

 olas Hotel. Our barometer stood at 20.8 inches, with an 

 average temperature of 72 F. Fairplay is noted for its gulch- 

 mining interests, and the hillsides are tunnelled for miles in all 

 directions by the eager miners. We noticed here the cheer- 

 ful faces of many Chinamen hard at work. The process 

 is to empty the gold-bearing earth into long sluices, through 

 which runs a rapid stream of water strong enough to carry 

 large boulders, but not powerful enough to wash away the 

 gold, which sinks to the bottom, where it is caught by the 

 mercury behind the riffle-bars, which- are placed at intervals 

 transversely to the current. This amalgam is taken out 

 and the gold obtained by volatilizing the mercury. The 

 "wash," as it is called, averages here $11 a day per man. 



JULY 12, THURSDAY. 



We made corresponding observations in the morning until 

 nine o'clock, when L. started for Mount Lincoln, having pre- 

 viously procured a horse and guide. M. removed his instru- 

 ment to th'e spot that had been left by L., and, as agreed 

 upon, continued observations there. On the road up Mount 

 Lincoln, on the sides of Mount Bross, L. visited some mines 

 rich in silver ore. He reached the top of Mount Bross at 

 10.30, made observations for half an hour, and then con- 

 tinued on the road up Mount Lincoln, the summit of which 



