4A J.L,. Le Conte on Volcanic Springs in Southern California. 
by these yc er however the annual rise of the river 
is not sufficient to supply iver with water, and should this 
occur for two bissee in a the lagoons along its course be- 
come entirely dry, and the difficulty of crossing the desert is 
much increased. : 
The whole course of New River is marked by a large species 
of ones called ‘ Kelite’ by the natives, a ‘careless 
weed’ by the emigrants; it furnishes almost the only food for 
cattle pe horses to be found in this region: the seeds cf used by 
the Indians in preparing a kind of cake, pe is quite palatable, 
when nothing else can be procured. The green leaves (if they 
ever are green) may be used asa salad, or boiled as a vegetable. 
The ground passed over before arriving at the village was in 
many places covered with a thin layer of sandstone, forming oc- 
casionally concretions like claystones; this sandstone has appar- 
ently been formed by springs similar to those seen afterwards. 
The dust was sometimes extremely fine and incoherent, so that 
the feet of the horses would sink from six to eight inches ; many 
pieces of pumice were also found stranded on the surface. 
The Indian village contained about fifty inhabitants, who re- 
ceived us in a very friendly manner, offering us melons, beans 
and pumpkins, which they raise in abundance. Visiting the 
village were some Yumas from the Colorado, who recounted to 
Major Heintzelman the depredations committed by the grand army 
of California, recently sent under one Major General Morehead, to 
avenge the murder of a party of ferrymen at the junction of the 
Colorado and Gila. Though these depredations were not remark- 
able, the Indians had apparently had enough of the war, and 
learning that a military post was soon to be established, they 
became very anxiousto make peace, until ae opportunity 
for safely committing some outrage should occur. 
After resting our horses, we started with an escort of seven or 
eight Indians, who used all the power of their eloquence to dis- 
suade us from going. Nevertheless, on our exclaiming -that we 
had come a long distance to see these volcanoes, and that we 
would seek them for ourselves, if they were afraid to accompany 
us, the debate ceased, and we rode on in a northwesterly direc- 
tion. After going about eight miles, we reached a soft muddy 
plain bordering the Salt Lake: the salt in consequence of a recent 
ower had almost disappeared, only a few crusts about half an 
ineh thick now anealgendsa The deposit is anid to be sometimes 
ig > tears 
, and now distant from us six or eight miles, 
hills "Rit ee = yn of which 
cit e. 
