WAHSATCH MOUNTAINS — SALT LAKE VALLEY. 83 



In the pass througli which we entered Ogden's Hole, the carboni- 

 ferous rocks were again found, thrown up at an angle of 70° or 

 80°, with a dip to the north-east. On the western side of the 

 high range of hills which extended to the north-west and formed 

 the eastern boundary of Ogden's Hole, the edges of the strata 

 cropped out as if a great fault had been formed at the point of 

 elevation. No debris of primitive rock were discovered, nor was 

 any observed in place during the whole jom'ney from Bridger's 

 Fort. In the pass leading to Salt Lake, through the Wahsatch 

 range, the rock were metamorphic. Some beautiful specimens of 

 marble were observed, and also some white crystalline sandstones. 

 The strata again appeared on the western side of the range, and 

 were inclined to the north-east about 70°. The chain evidently 

 was not formed on a central axis. No fossils were collected dur- 

 ing this part of the journey, as we travelled rapidly, and the 

 means of transporting them were necessarily limited. 



Descending the pass through dense thickets of small oak-trees, 

 we caught the first glimpse of the Great Salt Lake, the long- 

 desired object of our search, and which it had cost us so many 

 weary steps to reach. A gleam of sunlight, reflected by the water, 

 and a few floating, misty clouds, were all, however, that we could 

 see of this famous spot, and we had to repress our enthusiasm for 

 some more favourable moment. I felt, nevertheless, no little grati- 

 fication in having at length attained the point where our labours 

 were to commence in earnest, and an impatient longing to enter 

 upon that exploration to which our toils hitherto had been but 

 preliminary. 



Emerging from the pass, we entered the valley of the Salt Lake, 

 and descending some moderately high table-land, struck the road 

 from the Mormon settlements to the lower ford of Bear River, 

 whence, in two or three miles, we came to what was called Brown's 

 Settlement, and rode up to quite an extensive assemblage of log 

 buildings, picketed, stockaded, and surrounded by out-buildings 

 and cattle-yards, the whole afi'ording evidence of comfort and 

 abundance far greater than I had expected to see in so new a set- 

 tlement. Upon requesting food and lodging for the night, we 

 were told to our great surprise that we could not be accommodated, 

 nor would the occupants sell us so much as an egg or a cup of milk, 

 so that we were obliged to remount our horses ; and we actually 

 bivouacked under some willows, within a hundred yards of this in- 

 hospitable dwelling, turning our animals loose, and guarding them 



