TOPOGRAPHIC NOTES. xxi 



land, wliich culminates in an elevation east of it, measuring 6,650 feet, in 

 Nilaks Mountain (Nilakshi, "Daybreak"), on the lake shore, and in Swan 

 Lake Point (7,200 feet), about eight miles from Klamath Lake. A deep 

 depression south of this height is Swan Lake Valley (4,270 feet), and a 

 high hill north of the two, near Sprague River, is called Saddle Mountain 

 (6,976 feet). Yaneks Butte, with a summit of 7,277 feet, lies midway 

 between the lieadwaters of Sprague River and the Lost River Valley. A 

 long and steep ridge, called the Plum Hills, rises between Nilaks and the 

 town of Linkville. 



We now arrive at what is called the "Old Modoc Country." The main 

 seat of the Modoc people was the valley of Lost River, the shores of Tule 

 and of Little Klamath Lake. Lost River follows a winding course about as 

 long as that of Williamson River, but lies in a more genial climate. The soil 

 is formed of sandstone interstratified with infusorial marls. Nushaltk;iga is 

 .one of its northern side valleys. At the Natural Bridge (Tilhuantko) these 

 strata have been upheaved by a fault, so that Lost River passes underneath. 

 The sandstone is of volcanic origin, and contains pumice and black scoria 

 in rounded masses, often of the size of an egg. The largest part of Tule 

 Lake, also called Rhett Lake and Modoc Lake (M6atak, Moatokni ^-usli), 

 lies within the boundaries of California. It is drained by evaporation only, 

 has extinct craters on its shores, and the celebrated Lava Beds, long inhab- 

 ited by the K6mbatwash Indians, lie on its southern end. 



Clear Lake, also called Wright Lake (by the Modocs, Tchaps;{o), is a 

 crater basin, with the water surface lying considerably below the surround- 

 ing country. Its outlet is a tributary of Lost River, but is filled with water 

 in the cooler season only. Little or Lower Klamath Lake (Aka-ushkni 

 e-ush) is fed by Cottonwood Creek, and on its southern side had several 

 Indian settlements, like Agawesh. It has an altitude of 4,175 feet, and 

 belong's to the drainage basin of Klamath River. South of these lakes 

 there are considerable volcanic formations, wliich, however, lie beyOnd the 

 pale of our descriptive sketch. 



Peculiar to this volcanic tract is the frequent phenomenon of the pond 

 sources (welwash, nushaltkaga). These sources are voluminous springs of 

 limpid water, which issue from the ground at the border of the ponds with 



