HUMBOLDT RIVER, CARSON LAKE, AND OWENS lilVKli AND LAKE. 479 



A curious feature of this river is the number of small streams near its banks ami 

 immediately in its bed. We tried the temperature of one on the 10th instant with a 

 thermometer graduated to 160°, to which point the mercury rose in a tew seconds. 

 From its situation, forming as it does a long line of travel of the emigrant parties, this 

 river will soon become an interesting and noted point in this now great wilderness. 

 Portions.of its immediate bottoms may be capable of cultivation ; but the bare, sandy 

 bluffs that surround or border it, produce little save bunch-grass, and no timber. 

 Great numbers of ducks and geese are to be found in this region. A small gray duck 

 is of excellent flavor. Provisions becoming scarce. Leaving our camp of the 24th 

 November, on the outlet of the lake, we crossed a low, gravelly ridge, mixed with 

 heavy sand, for 4 or 5 miles ; we then struck a level plain resembling the dry bed of a 

 lake, extending to a low range of hills on the western side 10 or 12 miles distant, and 

 from 20 to 25 miles on the eastern side, running in a northeasterly direction, and 

 continuing east of Ogden's or Mary's Lake, probably connecting with some of the 

 high ranges visible from the river on the 18th and 19th. Ah on the plains on the 

 western side of the Great Salt Lake, the incrustation yielded to the tread of our horses. 

 Nothing can appear worse than the surrounding country; the glare of the white sand, 

 relieved only by the rugged , distant mountains, the absence of animal and vegetable 

 life, make up a whole in the way of dreariness and desolation. 



The outlet of Ogden's Lake, after running several miles toward the rim of this 

 basin, forms a large marsh in the midst of the sand-hills. ( hir animals tailing, we en- 

 camped among the sand-hills, without grass or water. 



November 25. — A couple of hours' ride this morning brought us to the outlet of 

 another lake, where we encamped, having ridden twenty-live miles. The water in this 

 stream is running, but is indifferently good. The banks are from 8 to 10 feet high; 

 growth willow. Sand-hills on either side. On the east runs a low rocky range, beyond 

 which are ridges and peaks of higher mountains. About eight miles below us this 

 stream forms a large marsh, hidden from us by sand-hills. Walker tells me that its 

 waters are extremely disagreeable. I found skulls of the natives killed here by Walker's 

 party some ten years since. The emigrants turn toward the California Mountains from 

 the sink of Ogden's River. After a noon halt and rest to our animals, we crossed and 

 continued down the river, camping near the lake. 



November 26. — In a southeasterly direction nine miles along the border of the lake. 

 For 30 or 40 yards about its edge in width is a thick growth of bulrushes. It is a very 

 pretty sheet of water; Various kinds of fowl in abundance. The greatest length is about 

 11 miles. On the eastern side runs a low range of burnt rock hills. The lake is 

 bounded on the west by a low range of mountains ; about midway on the western side 

 a stream enters it. Slightly timbered; probably cotton wood. 



November 27. — In a southern course, over a level for about 3 miles, then crossing 

 a low ridge of sand and burnt rock down an open ravine, leading into a larger 

 plain, we made camp among the sand-hills, at some Indian wells of bad water, thor- 

 oughly impregnated with sulphur. These wells, with a little trouble, could be made 

 a good watering-place; but, as they now are, it was with the greatest difficulty that we 

 could procure a sufficiency for our animals. There was plenty of good bunch-grass 



