Fremont's island. 159 



mam shore to the island, which is constantly resorted to on account 

 of its affording on the whole of its eastern slope one of the finest 

 ranges for horses and cattle to be found in the whole valley. 

 Being insulated from the main shore, it affords great comparative 

 security from depredations by the Indians. On account of these 

 advantages, and of its being accessible by water, I directed the 

 herd, which had been wintered in Tuilla Valley, to be driven to 

 this island. They were placed under the charge of the herdsman 

 licensed by the Mormon authorities to receive all the cattle which 

 may be committed to his care, he giving bond and security for 

 their safe return, and being held responsible for any loss that may 

 occur. The herd remained here until our departure from the 

 country. 



Saturday^ April 6. — The night was windy, and the morning 

 cold and raw. Left camp in the boat for an island distant about 

 ten miles to the northward, called by the Mormons, Castle Island, 

 for the purpose of erecting a station upon its summit. In crossing 

 from the camp to the island, the lead was kept constantly going. 

 The deepest water found was twelve feet, the depth varying 

 generally from three and a half to six. Doubling the northern 

 cape of the island, we landed upon a narrow beach, west of a pro- 

 jecting little reef consisting principally of green hornblende 

 rock. Mica schist also crops out, at an angle of 70°. 



From the drift-wood on the shore, three long poles were selected 

 and carried to the summit of the highest peak of the island, and 

 a station built with them. This was a work of severe labour, as 

 the island was at least eight or nine hundred feet high, the timber 

 heavy, and the ascent, in some places, very steep, exceeding an 

 angle of forty-five degrees. As we rise to the summit, argillaceous 

 schists predominate, filled with cubes of bisulphuret of iron, many 

 of which were found among the detritus of the decomposing rock. 

 Rolled stones and pebbles of quartz and granite, imbedded in a 

 sedimentary rock forming a conglomerate, were also found, with 

 tufa. Upon the side of a large and singular mass of schistose rock, 

 with three large holes worn entirely through it by the disintegra- 

 tion of its softer particles, we found a cross cut into the stone, ap- 

 parently with a chisel. From the highest table of the island 

 rises an oblong rocky eminence, resembling, from some points of 

 view, ruins of an ancient castle, whence it had received from the 

 Mormons its name of "Castle Island." Fremont called it "Dis- 

 appointment Island." I deemed it but due, however, to the first 



