54 EEPOET UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL StJEVEY. 



tant. All of these lakes are sliaUow and more or less alkaline. Dur- 

 ing the dry season, the majority of them dry out, leaving white, fre- 

 quently soft, alkaline "flats." The largest lake of the eastern group we 

 have named Death Lalie. 



Siceeticater regioji. — h\ the vicinity of the Sweetwater, a number of 

 lakes may be found during the wet season. Very few of them had any 

 water at the time we were there. As the river is so near by, they are of 

 little importance to the traveller. Their water is scarcely fit to drink 

 when it is low, and its existence is not to be depended upon during a 

 large i)ortion of the year. Interesting and comparatively well known 

 to western explorers is the region of Agate Lakes. They are located in 

 the immediate vicinity of the river, north of it, opposite Elkhorn Gap. 

 At that locahty moss-agates are scattered in profusion over the sod, 

 whence the name. 



Dispersed throughout the entire area of low country within our dis- 

 trict we find isolated lakes. Unfortunately they are mostly dry during 

 the summer, but early in the season their presence renders travelling 

 "across country" more comfortable than after the beginning of the 

 month of Jidy. In the sand-hills south of Sandy Creek Pass a number 

 of small lakes were found. The loose material has, in the course of time, 

 become suinciently packed to resist their sinking. 



S^prings. 



Cold Springs. — ^Within the dry region south of the Sweetwater Hills 

 the existence of springs is often an item of personal interest to the trav- 

 ellers. It is scarcely possible, however, to furnish any rule exi3ressing 

 the conditions under which they there make their appearance. Fre- 

 quently they occur near the lakes, and, although the latter may be tlry, 

 water can often even then be found in the springs. An unusually green 

 growth of vegetation generally indicates then" presence. ISTear Mount 

 Essex we found a spring of this kind at the southern base of the hill. 

 At the foot of a hill upon which station 25 was located, a spring occurs 

 amid the basaltic rocks, and one lower down in a small meadow. We 

 named the former Basalt Spring. On the road from Whiskey Gap to 

 Eawlings, BelVs Spring furnished a favorite camping-i)lace, and on that 

 fi-om Sandy Creek Pass to Eawlings Broicn^s Spying answers the same 

 purpose. Gheroliee Springs, near the town, supply its inhabitants with 

 water. Not unfrequently springs may be found along the borders of the 

 " sand-belt," whicli extends from Packer's Creek to the Seminole Mount- 

 ains. 



On the steep northward slope of the Sweetwater Plateau springs are 

 quite numerous in the narrow gulches which furrow its face. Usually 

 they are of considerable strength, nnd send their water a short distance 

 as small creeks. Withui the Granite Hills springs may be found near 

 the bases of some of the more isolated points. During the hot season 

 the majority of them is dry, however. 



In the mountains and along the foot-hills springs are of fr-equent occur- 

 rence. Two very pretty ones were found at Sheep Mountain. One of 

 them was located on the south side of the mountain in the canon of 

 Beaver Creek. Clear, cold water issued from a seam ui strata of Car- 

 boniferous limestones. The other exists at the northern base of the 

 same mountain, near Twin Creek. 



The mtid springs at Death Lake may be mentioned in this connection. 

 Although furnishiug no drinkable water and not obeying the same laws 

 which usually govern the emission of water upon the surface, they afford 



