174 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



dence in California — for inspection. The whole of this desert 

 is rich in precious metals, but on account of the lack of water 

 for separating them from the earth and rock in which they 

 are found, they will doubtless, until the advent of railroads, 

 remain where they are. After emerging from the basin 

 through the pass, we came on to a gravelly, rolling plain, 

 occasionally varied by beds of yielding sand. Late in the 

 afternoon we came in sight of what appeared to be a large 

 body of water. Nothing could have seemed more natural. 

 We could see the waves dancing beneath the rays of the sun, 

 now sinking behind the range of mountains which bounded 

 our view on the west, and at the sight of this exhilarating 

 picture both horse and man pressed onward with quickened 

 steps, hoping to soon quench their thirst in the sparkling 

 waters before them. The hopes of all were, however, in a 

 measure disappointed on a nearer view of the imaginary lake, 

 which proved to be a perfectly level plain, a square mile in 

 area, which had been glazed over by water which had once 

 covered it. The reflection of the sun on its glossy surface had 

 given it its watery appearance. This is called " Dry Lake," 

 and is made a halting place whenever water is found in two 

 or three wells on its northern shore. We had not expected to 

 find water at this time of the year, but we found a sufficiency 

 of it at the bottom of the wells ; though it was a vile liquid — 

 muddy and alkaline. Having filled our kegs we crossed to 

 the other side of the lake-bed, where we found a little grass 

 scattered among the dwarfed sage brush. To say that the 

 plain was as " smooth as a barn floor " would be altogether 

 within the bounds of truth, so even was its surface, and the 

 hot sun had baked it as hard as a brick. It was quite a treat 

 to ride over such a course as this after having been jolted so 

 long over the rough surface of the desert. 



The day was succeeded by a bright moon-lit evening, and 

 as so unparalleled a race-course was at hand, we determined 



