106 



LIEUTENANT MICHLER'S REPORT. 



water and mud of the ponds. The temperature in the principal pond was 118°, and. in a 



smaller one 135*^. One of the mud-holes from which gas escaped was 170°. The air was filled 



with sulphuretted hydrogen, and in the crevices were heautiful yellow crystals of sulphur. 



The ground was covered with a white efflorescence, tinged with red and yellow." 



The climate of this region is in accordance with everything else relating to it. Encamped 



there during the three winter months, we found the weather generally mild, although the 



changes in temperature were very great ; the thermometer during part of this time as high as 



90^ Tahrenheit, and then as low as 30*^. The days were sometimes uncomfortahly warm, and the 



nights intensely cold. Living and sleeping in tents all the time, we seldom had occasion to 



have a camp-fire except at early dawn. Owing to the clearness of the skies, the radiation is 

 extremely rapid^ and ice forms ([uickly. 



Having returned the following August to Fort Yuma, the thermometer in the shade at the 

 post was found to "be 116° Fahrenheit, and over 120° in the shade along the river. The heat, 

 commencing to he excessive in May, hecomes almost unendurahle in the months of June, July, 

 and August. Even in winter the sun is so hot, and the direct as well as reflected light 

 upon the sand-plains so dazzling, that, excepting a couple of hours after dayhreak and an hour 

 "before sunset, it is only possible to see objects through the hest instrumental telescopes in the 

 most distorted shapes— a thin white pole appearing as a tall column of the whitest fleece. 



In this helt of country rain seldom falls ; in the distance dark clouds may he seen hanging 

 over the California and Sonoranian mountains, hut they seldom visit the intermediate localities. 



Durinsr the wholo nf otip vpar thfiv hnri Imf iwr\ innlioo r^f t-oTt^ a ft«^ ^ ;„„i „ /• j jl. 



m 



some passing cloud fell in the two winter months, December and January, and in the following 

 February .07 of an inch. The coast rains take place during the winter ; and the rainy season 

 in Sonera, the Mexican state south of the boundary line, in the months of July, August, and 

 September. Spring, in the intermediate section, puts forth its thick green foliage in February, 

 without any rains to refresh and cool the parched ground. 



Instead of storms of rain during the winter and spring, they have those of dust and sand. 

 These are caused by high and strong winds sweeping over the desert plains, coming princi- 

 pally from the northwest, raising and carrying before them, like mist, clouds of pulverized sand 

 and dust, lou can watch them in their progress as they approach for hours beforehand, and 

 when they reach you the dust penetrates into every crevice, the finest silk not being impervious 

 to It. Ihcy last generally a day ; sometimes three. The winds blow up quickly and violently, 

 and It IS useless to attempt to work with nice instruments. These dust-storms were our great 

 drawbacks as it was impossible to see many feet distant, and then only at the risk of being 

 blmded. The gusts of wind which produce this unpleasant effect in winter are in summer like 



the simoons of the Sahara-they sweep over and scorch the land, burning like the hot blasts of 

 a lurnace. ^ 



Think of those officers and soldiers who are so unfortuEate aa to be stationed at Fort Yuma. 

 Two companies of artillery now garrison the post ; their quarters have heretofore heeu Mexican 

 ^aca;._upr,ght mezqmte poles, plastered with mud and covered with a thatching of arrow-wood ; 

 lA so much powder a single spark ignites them, and they hum like a flash in the pan. Dust 



LieTrd "■ ^"^-l "'Vf '^' ™"™^' ^""''''"' «'™^Sl' *<= "-ices, the sun only teing 



d ied hlT-'r'A 1 ' ^'^^ ""^ ^"^^8^"' '° "-'^-S -- 1«-*"s of adobes, (sun- 



