100 KECONNOISSANCE AROUND GREAT SALT LAKE. 



As soon as thej perceived the rest of our party moving toward 

 them from the plain, the whole band, consisting of some six or 

 eight men and half a dozen squaws, retreated incontinently up the 

 mountain, and in a few minutes totally disappeared, nor did we 

 see them again. As we continued to advance, we passed through 

 their encampment, which they had abandoned in such haste that 

 they left every thing as it was at the moment of their flight — 

 the kettle was boiling over the fire, and a good gun rested against 

 a bush. We left all untouched, and did not even dismount, as we 

 knew they were watching us from behind the rocks, and I was de- 

 sirous of convincing them of our peaceable disposition. 



Following down the eastern base of the promontory for about two 

 miles, we encamped on a small spring-branch, coming down from the 

 mountains, furnishing very tolerable water and plenty of grass — 

 refreshment most welcome to our jaded and famished animals, 

 which had not had a full meal for nearly two days. At the In- 

 dian camp there was a spring, but the water, although abundant, 

 was salt and unfit for use. Temperature of the spring, 84°. The 

 mountain or main promontory seemed to be composed of li::nestone, 

 altered shales, and sandstones : it rises from fifteen hundred to 

 two thousand feet. 



Monday, October 22. — Ther. at sunrise 25°. Morning clear 

 and calm. The Salt Lake, which lay about half a mile to the 

 eastward, was covered by immense flocks of wild geese and ducks, 

 among which many swans were seen, being distinguishable by 

 their size and the whiteness of their plumage. I had seen large 

 flocks of these birds before, in various parts of our country, and 

 especially upon the Potomac, but never did I behold any thing 

 like the immense numbers here congregated together. Thousands 

 of acres, as far as the eye could reach, seemed literally covered 

 with them, presenting a scene of busy, animated cheerfulness, in 

 most graceful contrast with the dreary, silent solitude by which 

 we were immediately surrounded. 



Our course until noon was south, along the base of the high pro- 

 montory which puts into the lake from the north. On our left, for 

 about three miles from our encampment, was an isolated knob or hill, 

 separated from the main range by a grassy plain. It consisted of 

 limestone and slaty shales, in the former of which were some small 

 caves. The rocks were thrown up' at a very high angle, and in some 

 j^laces were perpendicular, and rested, as far as could be ascertained, 

 on a primitive formation below. Toward the southern end of the 



