50 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



diverge from it more southwardly; Beekwith's, as well as Choi-penning & Company's, 

 striking oft" to the Humboldt too far northwardly. All this while I shall keep the guide 

 with a party to the south of me, examining the country in that direction along a line 

 generally parallel to that I shall follow, so that on my return I shall, if possible, be 

 able to open a route farther to the south, and thus obtain a better and shorter route to 

 California, 



The road we are following for one mile continues down the pass north of west, 

 and then turns more southwardly, Thomas' range flanking us on our left, or to the 

 east, and the desert on our right. In G miles you enter Cedar Valley, made by 

 Thomas' range on your left, and a short range on your right. Threading this, in 3 

 miles you emerge from it, and cross a valley 9 miles wide, which, on your right, is a 

 salt-spring marsh and boggy, and therefore forces the road to the south, as indicated 

 on the maps. This valley crossed, the road takes a sharp turn to the right, and, 

 running northwestwardly, skirts a range of highly- altered calcareous and slaty rocks , 

 on your left, and in 1.5 miles passes by Devil's Hole, and in 5.5 miles more reaches 

 Fish Springs, where Lieutenant Murry and command are encamped. Whole journey, 

 25.3 miles. Road, though not what may be called bad, yet in some places sandy, and 

 in others stony ; soil, areno-ealcaivo-argillaceous, the wild sage and greasewood char- 

 acterizing it ; not a tree visible, except a few dwarf cedars in Cedar Valley ; mountain 

 formations metamorphic. as already stated; general dip of strata north of west, and 

 partly decided. 



The Devil's Hole is a natural well, about 15 feet in diameter, and measures 25.5 

 feet in depth. A whitish clay efflorescence incrusts the sides, and the water is slightly 

 saline in taste, the horses drinking it pretty freely. In color it is greenish. The sur- 

 face of the water is 10 feet below that of the ground, and therefore can be reached 

 only with the pail. 



There is a mail-station at these springs, where we are encamped. At present the 

 only shelter is a thatched shed. The mail-agent reports that it is perfectly impracti- 

 cable to shorten the route by striking directly across the valley to this station, on 

 account of the alkaline flat, which will scarcely allow animals with packs to cross. The 

 springs are large and copious, very clear, the bottom presenting a whitish appearance, 

 with a hue of green. An innumerable quantity of fish are to be seen sporting in the 

 water. AYe have caught some specimens. They are about G inches long, have 

 darkish, speckled scales, and seem to be a kind of chub. They are very inferior for 

 the table. The water is slightly brackish and lukewarm, but when allowed to cool is 

 palatable. 



Rained slightly in showers to-day. Grass in scant quantities along the road in 

 places ; to be found in tolerable quantity on side of a mountain near camp. 



May 7, Camp No. 5, Fish Springs.— Elevation above the sea, 4,28!) feet. Ther- 

 mometer at 5 a. m., 40°.25. The guide did not return until this morning. He cor- 

 roborates the statement of the mail-agent in respect to the impossibility of crossing 

 the valley directly to the east of this camp, he having been obliged to unpack his 

 animals to get over the marsh. Since yesterday morning he has traveled about GO 

 miles, having been incessantly going all night. He could find no water in pass to 



