REPORT AND JOURNAL. 125 



Dome Canon. Excellent and tolerably abundant grass in tbis canon, but 

 no water. Cedars and a few firs on slopes of canon. The walls of the canon lull of 

 small caves, and as usual showing a great deal of the resinous, pitchy substance, that 

 seemingly oozes out of the rock; but it may be- the dung of birds or ot small animals. 

 The formation of the mountain range is made up of highly altered limestones and some 

 altered sandstones, &c. 



Ascended a high point to right of pass to get an extensive view. To the south, 

 some 20 miles oif, lies a lake of sky-blue color, apparently some 10 or 15 miles long, 

 and less broad. This is doubtless Sevier Lake, the sink of Sevier River, on which 

 Captain Griinnison and party were massacred in 1853, and to which he was tending 

 for the purpose of examining it when the catastrophe occurred. Tin- valley lying to 

 the north of this lake exhibits one extended low, flat, desert plain, showing 'many spots 

 of a whitish alkaline character. Coursing from south to north across it, at its eastern 

 portion, some 20 miles off, is a low range of mountains, its north end terminating 

 directly east of my point of view. Far beyond can be seen a continuous range ot 

 mountains, running north and south, which doubtless is the formidable \\ ahsatch 

 range. The prospect of palatable water directly east is poor indeed. 



After descending from summit on east side, about two miles, met Collamer, who 

 conducted us up a canon to the left about half a mile, when we came to a fine cold 

 spring of good water, where, at 12.45, we encamp. Road to-day excellent, except 

 across alkaline portion of the White Valley as stated. Annuals driven to the creek, 

 up the canon about a mile from camp, where there is a considerable quantity ot fine 

 grass and a growth of pines. Journey 14..") miles. This spring, creek, and canon 1 

 call after Lieut. Gurden Chapin, Seventh Infantry. 



Met the guide, Mr. Reese, at this campground.^ He arrived lure yesterday after- 

 noon without food. Reports water and grass 15 miles ahead. The rest ot the party, 

 Pete, Lambert, and Stephenson, are awaiting us at that locality : their animals all 

 broken down from sore feet. They had been two days without water. r i he guide 

 had been unsuccessful in finding the water pointed out in the distance on our outward 

 route by the red-shirred Indian (Black Hawk's brother) in the Short-Cut Pas. range. 

 although they were engaged two days looking for it. This was the water winch was 

 to shorten the distance between water on the desert to oo miles. 



Persons following us may suppose that, from Rush Pond, we might have come 

 more directly to our present camp, by the pass just to the north ot us m the House 

 range; but besides White Valley not being practicable, on account ot alkaline mire m 

 that direction, the pass referred to is not practicable tor wagons. 1 us pass was exam- 

 ined by the guide-party on our outward route. 



The old ox which remained of those we took tn>m < amp I U>\ d, on our wa\ on 

 was slaughtered for beef this evening, and not without considera >le regret le 

 traveled with us the whole way, and we felt reluctant at parting with him even tor 



beef ^„ 27, Camp No. 28, Chopin's ^.-Elevation above the sea, 6,530 feet. 

 Thermometer 5 a. m, 67°. For the last 2 nights the weather has been quite ™ 

 Marched at 20 minutes past 5. Retraced our steps one-fourth ot a mile to old Moi- 



