INDEPENDENCE ROCK — DEVIL'S GATE. 65 



masses of igneous rocks, granite and serpentine, protruded con- 

 siderably above the soil. The direction of the dike was from north 

 to south. The strata through which thej protruded did not appear 

 to be disturbed, nor were any sp.ecimens of metamorphic rocks 

 found near them, although, had such existed, their presence would 

 have been indicated, as being more resisting than the sandstone of 

 which the surface rock is generally composed. Wherever any 

 sections of the latter have been obtained, they were found to be 

 either coarse white or gray sandstone, and clay, with coarse con- 

 glomerate. Some distance below this dike, the igneous rocks 

 again became visible, and at this point portions of white sandstone 

 were found overlying the lower parts of the rock, and apparently 

 in horizontal layers. The surface of the ground in the vicinity, 

 w^here water had apparently stood, was coated with a white saline 

 substance, a portion of which was collected. 



The same substance has been observed within the last two days 

 on the surface in those localities where water has evaporated. 

 Near our encampment this evening, large masses of igneous rock 

 protrude in every direction, but the sandstone near them does not 

 appear to have been disturbed. 



Few or no flowers have been met with on this portion of the 

 route, owing, in part, to the dryness of the atmosphere, (due to 

 our increasing elevation,) and in part to the occurrence of frosts 

 during the summer months. 



Tuesday, July 31. — Ther. at sunrise, 40°. Leaving camp 

 we continued up the valley of the Sweetwater, and passed the 

 far-famed "Independence Rock," a large rounded mass of granite, 

 which has frequently been described by travellers. It was covered 

 with names of the passing emigrants, some of whom seemed deter- 

 mined, judging from the size of their inscriptions, that they would 

 go down to posterity in all their fair proportions. A short dis- 

 tance beyond was a range of granite hills, stretching entirely 

 across the valley, and continuous with a range extending to the 

 north. Through this range the Sweetwater passes in a narrow 

 cleft or gorge, about two hundred yards in length, called the 

 ''Devil's Gate." The space between the cliff, on either side, did 

 not in some places exceed forty feet. The height was from three 

 to four hundred feet, very nearly perpendicular, and, on the south 

 side, overhanging. Through this romantic pass the river brawls 

 and frets over broken masses of rock that obstruct its passage, 

 affording one of the most lovely, cool, and refreshing retreats from 



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