96 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERKITOEIES. 



" Second flowing, 1.30 p. m. to 1.50 p. m. ; length, 20 minutes. 



" Third flowing, 5 p. m. to 5.15 p. ni. ; length, 15 minutes. 



" Fourth flowing, 8.30 p. m. to 8.50 p. m. ; length, 20 minutes. 



" Fifth flowing, 12.30 p. m. to 12.45 p. m. ; length, 15 minutes. 



" Sixth flowing, 4 a. ra. to 4.15 a. m. ; length, 15 minutes. 



" Seventh flowing, 7.30 a. m. to 7.45 a. m. ; length, 15 minutes. 



"Eighth flowing, 11 a. m. to 11.10 a. m. ; length, 10 minutes. 



" Total length of time, 26 hours. Aggregate time of flowings, 3 hours 

 and 15 minutes. Average length of flowings, 15 minutes and 37J 

 seconds." 



On the 28th of July we arrived at the lake, and pitched our camp on 

 the northwest shore, in a beautiful grassy meadow or opening among 

 the dense pines. The lake lay before us, a vast sheet of quiet water, of a 

 most delicate ultramarine hue, one of the most beautiful scenes I have 

 ever beheld. (Fig. 31.) The entire party were filled with enthusiasm. The 

 great object of all our labors had been reached, and we were amply paid 

 for all our toils. Such a vision is worth a lifetime, and only one of such 

 marvelous beauty will ever greet human eyes. From whatever point of 

 view one may behold it, it presents a unique picttire. We had brought up 

 the frame- work of a boat 12 feet long and 3^ feet wide, which we covered 

 with stout ducking, well tarred. On the morning of the 29th, Messrs. 

 Stevenson and Elliott started across the lake in the Anna, the first 

 boat ever launched on the Yellowstone, and explored the nearest island, 

 which we named after the principal assistant of the expedition, who was 

 undoubtedly the first white man that ever placed foot upon it. 



Our little bark, which is well shown in figure 32, whose keel was the 

 first to plow the waters of the most beautiful lake on our continent, 



Fig 



and which must now become 

 historical, was n^med by Mr. 

 Stevenson in compliment to 

 Miss Anna L. Dawes, the 

 amiable daughter of Hon. H. 

 L. Dawes. My whole party 

 were glad to manifest, by this 

 slight tribute, their gratitude 

 to the distinguished states- 

 man, whose generous sympa- 

 thy and aid had contributed 

 so much toward securing the 

 appropriation which enabled 

 them to explore this marvel- 

 ous region. 



Usually in the morning the 

 surface of the lake is calm, but 

 toward noon and after, the 

 waves commence to roll, and 

 THE *'anna." thewhite caps rise high, some- 



times four or five feet. Our little boat rode the weaves well ; but when 

 a strong bre'eze blew, the swell was too great, and we could only venture 

 along the shore. This lake is about twenty-two miles in length from 

 north to south, and an average of ten to fifteen miles in width from east 

 to west. It has been aptly compared to the human hand ; the northern 

 portion would constitute the palm, while the southern .prolongations or 

 arms might represent the fingers. The map itself, which shows all the 

 soundings, will best convey to the eye of the reader its peculiar form. 

 There are some of the most beautiful shore-lines along this lake that I 



