2 J.L. Le Conte on Volcanic Springs in Southern California. 
Entering almost immediately a small cafion, by which we as- 
cended a rocky ridge, we soon descended again into a narrow deep 
canon trending N.E.; this we followed for several miles, encoun- 
tering in our route many precipitous places, over which we had 
great difficulty in leading our horses. The rocks were meta- 
morphic, of a gneissoid and sienitic character, and the scanty 
vegetation was similar to that of Vallecitas; the most conspicuons 
objects being Larrea mexicana, Fouquiera spinosa, Prosopis, Agave 
and a variety of brittle and sae looking Opuntiz, both of the 
flattened and cylindrical for 
The cajion finally en aed a toe valley, in which were remains 
of some Indian huts, now abandoned from the failure of water. 
The valley opened abruptly by a gap through the most eastern 
mountain range, and at 8 a. m. we found ourselves on the edge of 
the great desert, though still considerably above the general level 
of its surface. An extensive but peculiarly uninteresting prospect 
was before us; an immense plain extended to the eastern Horie 
broken subenie the north by some slight. ae aga) masses 
rock lay around us on the mountain side; the mountain itself, 
appeared a wall of naked rocks, and it was only within a small 
circle of vision, that an earth colored vegetation could be observed ; 
as if the influence of our own living ‘selves had communicated 
a fictitious vitality to the spot where we stood, which soon 
would depart with us, and leave the ghosts of plants to shrink 
again into the rocks from which they had been evoked by our 
presence. 
At an indefinite distance towards the N. E. was seen a low range 
of mountains, near which a silvery surface with a slight fog rest- 
ing over it seemed to indicate water. This the guides declared 
was the Salt Lake, on the shores of which were the objects of our 
search, and confidently assured us that we should reach it before 
night. eo 
Halting here for breakfast, some excellent capon, and hard 
bread, washed down with a limited draught from our mn 
soon prepared us for the dreary ride ; the only resources to shor 
the way being very limited geology, and as may be inferred ‘ 
the nature of “the country, equally poor botany. It is no wonder 
that Government reports abound with names of plants, which 
Suggest nothing but linguistic difficulties, for there is little else in 
the va: ts of Western America to occupy the —— of the 
neebinens traveller; and with the determination of one resolved 
le with the dull *sublimity of incrgaas matter, a gs 
ks off and preserves a piece of some hideous veget- 
only charms are the ugliness of its 5 the lifeless- 
r, and the phse tae flower, and foliage 
a attractive 
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