202 Rocky Mountains and Oregon. 
narrow beach in a long line of foaming surf, five or six feet high. The 
day was unpleasantly cold, the wind driving the snow sharp against our 
faces ; and, having advanced only about twelve miles, we encamped in 
a bottom formed by a ravine, covered with good grass, which was fresh 
and green. 
_ % We did not get the howitzer into camp, but were obliged to leave it 
on the rocks until morning.. We saw several flocks of sheep, but did 
not succeed in killing any. Ducks were riding on the waves, and sey- 
eral large fish were seen. The mountain sides were crusted with the 
calcareous cement previously mentioned. There were chenopodiace- 
ous and other shrubs along the beach; and, at the foot of the rocks, an 
abundance of Ephedra occidentalis, whose dark-green color makes them 
appear like evergreens among the shrubby growth of the lake. To- 
wards evening the snow began to fall heavily, and the country had a 
wintry appearance. 
‘«‘ The next morning the snow was rapidly melting under a warm sun. 
Part of the morning was occupied in bringing up the gun; and, mak- 
ing only nine miles, we encamped on the shore, opposite a very re- 
markable rock in the lake, which had attracted our attention for many 
miles. It rose, according to our estimate, 600 feet above the water; 
and, from the point we viewed it, presented a pretty exact outline of 
the great pyramid of Cheops. The accompanying drawing presents it 
as we saw it. Like other rocks along the shore, it seemed to be in- 
crusted with calcareous cement. This striking feature suggested the 
name for the lake. 
‘‘ The elevation of this lake above the sea is 4,890 feet, being nearly 
700 feet higher than the Great Salt lake, from which it lies nearly west, 
and distant about eight degrees of longitude. The position and eleva- 
tion of this lake make it an object of geographical interest. . It is the 
nearest lake to the western rim, as the Great Salt lake is to the eastern 
rim, of the Great Basin which lies between the base of the y 
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada.”’—pp. 216, 217, 218. 
The work is illustrated by many fine views of scenery, besides 
five plates of fossils, and four of recent plants. ‘There was no 
retinue of science attached to the expedition, yet by perso 
exertion, in connection with his other arduous duties, Captain 
Frémont made valuable geological and botanical collections. Un- 
region, and about its loftiest heights, as well as upon the honored 
page of history. 
