198 Rocky Mountains and Oregon. 
species alone, with the general characters of the other species, and 
the absence of the large stems so common in the coal period, had 
led me to refer them to the oolitic period: I conceive however, 
that we have scarcely sufficient evidence to justify this reference.” 
At the Cascades on the Columbia, tertiary beds and fossils were 
met with, and the same rock occurs towards the mouth of the 
river. 
The Great Salt lake, called also Lake Timpanogos, and Lake 
outa, was examined in September, 1843, and this party was the 
first which had visited one of its islands. The elevation of the sur- 
face was ascertained to be 4,200 feet above the sea. ‘The rock here 
observed was a talcose rock or steatite. Standing on the summit 
of the island 800 feet high, to which they had passed in an India 
rubber boat, they had “an extended view of the lake, enclosed 
in a basin of rugged mountains, which sometimes left marshy 
flats and extensive bottoms between them and the shore, and in 
sulphate of lime 1-12. , 
The lateness of the season hurried our explorers from this re- 
gion before it could be thoroughly surveyed. There is a smaller 
lake to the south (Lake Utah) connected with the Great Salt 
Lake like Lake George with Champlain, which Captain Frémont 
visited on his return and found to consist of fresh water. 
Various thermal and mineral springs were met with on the 
different journeys, and efflorescent salts often abounded over the 
dry soil. One region of carbonated springs was met with on the 
Fontaine-qui-boutt river, in longitude 105° 23’. Another, the 
Beer springs, on Bear river, not far above the Great Salt Lake, is 
noticed as follows. 
“‘ Although somewhat disappointed in the expectations which various 
descriptions had led me to form of unusual beauty of situation and 
scenery, I found it altogether .a place of very greut interest; and @ 
traveller for the first time in a volcanic region remains in a constant €X- 
citement, and at every step is arrested by something remarkable and 
new. There is a confusion of interesting objects gathered together in 
@ small’ space. Around the place of encampment the Beer springs 
