184 THE GREAT SALT LAKE, ETC. 



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

 miles, tracing its way with diminished altitude adown the isthmus that 

 forms the Lower Province. 



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

 come naturally the first in order. 



This section is v/atered principally by the Colorado, Gila, and Bear riv- 

 ers, with their numerous tributaries, and has also several lakes in various 

 parts 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 

 connection with the Ocean. Its waters are so strongly impregnated with 

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



I'owards the northern extremity an island makes its appearance, from 

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

 sand feet above the circumfluent waters ; its craggy sides, naked and des- 

 olate, with whitened surface, now inspire the beholder with feelings of 

 awe, while its bounding streamlets, skirted with verdant openings and di- 

 minutive trees, strike the eye pleasantly, as the sheen of their waters falls 

 upon the vision and engenders commingled sensations of delight and ad- 

 miration. 



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

 miles distant ; a deception caused by the extraordinary purity of the at- 

 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 thought by many persons that still other islands of larger dimen- 

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

 there is ample room for them, and, although this vast body of water has 

 been circum-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- 

 servoir is the Big Bear, a stream which rises near the South Pass, and, 

 following its meanderings, is about two hundred and fifty or three hundred 

 miles in length. It rolls leisurely on with its deep sluggish volume of 

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

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

 or five other fresh water affluents from the east and south make a like de- 

 bouche without increasing its size or diminishing its saltness. 



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

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

 plains, highlands, and mountains, afibrding every variety of scenery. The 

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

 fruits indigenous to the country. 



* Recently, however, Capt. Fremont reports his having succeeded in reaching the 

 island nearest to the northern shore, but he was unfortunately prevented a further 

 exploration. In his account of this he makes no mention of trees or streams of water 

 upon the mountahi. I have described it only as it appears when viewed from the 

 main land. 



