234 TH£ GREAT 8AL1 L>LE£, £T0. 



Pacific at distances varying from one hundred and fifty to four hundred 

 miles, tracing its way v/ith diminished altitude adown the isthmus that 

 forms tlie Lower Province. 



Owmg to its locality, a description of the Eastern Division seems to 

 come naturally the fu-st in order. 



This section is watered principally by the Colorado, Gila, and Bear riv- 

 3rs, with thoir numerous tributaries, and has also several lakes in various 

 ^arts of it, prominent among which is the Great Salt Lake near the north- 

 ern boundary. 



This large body of water is nearly one hundred and fifty miles long by 

 eighty broad ; and, though the receptacle of several large rivers, has no 

 visible outlet, and hence is supposed by many persons to hold subterranean 

 counecliou with the Ocean. Its waters are so strongly impregiiated wil j 

 salt, uicrustatipns of that mineral are frequently found upon its shores. 



Towards the northern extremity an island makes its appearance, fro* 

 whose centre a solitary mountain rises in proud majesty for nearly a thov- 

 sand feel above the circumfluent waters ; its craggy sides, naked and de& 

 olate, with whitened surface, nov/ inspire tlie beholder with feelings of 

 awe, while its boimding "streamlets, skirted with verdant openings and di 

 niinutive trees, strike tiie eye pleasantly, as the sheen of tlieir waters falla 

 upon the vision and engenders commingled seiisations of deliglit and ad- 

 miration. 



Viewed from tlie northern shore, this island seems not more than twelve 

 miles distant ; a deception caused by the extraordinary purity of the i,t> 

 mosphere. Several attempts to reach it, however, by means of canoes, 

 have proved futile, owing to its great distance the dangerous state of navi- 

 gation. 



It is tliought by many persons tiiat stiU other islands of larger dimen- 

 sions occupy the centre of the lake, and not without some show of reason ; 

 there ia ample room for thein, and, although this vast body of water has 

 been cireum-traversed per shore, it has never yet been otherwise explored 

 by man* 



The largest of the rivers that find their discharge in this vast saline re- 

 •ervoir is Lhe Big Bear, a stream which rises near the South Pass, and, 

 following its meanderiii.>s, is about two hundred and fifty or three hundred 

 Qiiles in length. It rolls leisurely on v/ith its deep sluggish volume of 

 waters, measuring some two hundred yards wide at its moutli, and depos- 

 ites its willing tribute into the bosom of this miniature ocean, while foui 

 or five other fresh water afiiuents from the east and south make a like do- 

 bouche without increasing its size or diminishing its saltness. 



The valleys of tliese streams possess a very rich soil and are well tim- 

 bered. The landscape adjacent to tiie lake is diversified with marshes, 

 «»lains, highlands, and mountains, aflbrding every variety of scenery. The 

 •oil is generally fertile and prolific in all kinds of vegetation as well as 

 fruits indigenous to tire country. 



• Recently, however, Capt. Fremont reports his having succeeded in reaching thi 

 dUnd nearest to the acrthem shore, but he was imfortunately prevented a furthei 

 exploration. In hia account of this he makes no mention of tree* or streams of waisz 

 mpon the mountain. I have described it only as it appears when viewed fnm the 



