LAKE-WATER A PRESERVATIVE OF MEATS. 171 



and sought repose in the bottom of the boat, while I guided our 

 little craft during the night, until, at the break of day, I sank 

 down, benumbed by the cold and overcome by the fatigues of the 

 preceding day, followed by an incessant watch of more than twelve 

 hours. We were, however, not far from our encampment, hav- 

 ing run during the night nearly thirty miles. 



The party under Mr. Carrington returned to the camp in the 

 afternoon from Fremont's Island, having completed its detailed 

 survey during my absence. They were almost famished for water, 

 and had " laid out," or bivouacked, for four successive nights. 

 The fresh provisions and vegetables I brought with me were received 

 with much satisfaction. 



Before leaving Black Rock, I made an experiment upon the 

 properties of the water of the lake for preserving meat. A large 

 piece of fresh beef was suspended by a cord and immersed in the 

 lake for rather more than twelve hours, when it was found to be 

 tolerably well corned. After this, all the beef we wished to pre- 

 serve while operating upon the lake, was packed into barrels with- 

 out any salt whatever, and the vessels were then filled up with the 

 lake-water. No further care or preparation was necessary ; and 

 the meat kept perfectly sweet, although constantly exposed to the 

 sun. I have no doubt that meats put up in this water would 

 remain sound and good as long as if prepared after the most ap- 

 proved methods. Indeed, we were obliged to mix fresh water with 

 this natural brine, to prevent our meat from becoming too salt for 

 present use — a very few days' immersion changing its character 

 from corned beef to what the sailors call " salt junk." 



Monday^ April 29. — Moving camp from Promonotory Point. 

 The morning was bright and clear, but the wind blew a gale from 

 the west, by which the boats, being deeply laden, were so much 

 retarded that with all our exertion we could not get farther than 

 seven miles around the western side of the Promontory, when, to 

 avoid being driven ashore by the violence of the gale, we were 

 obliged to land and encamp for the night. The baggage, as usual, 

 had to be carried about half a mile to obtain ground upon which 

 to pitch the tents. This was found under a high clifi" of quartzctse 

 rock, with masses among the detritus of nearly pure feldspar. 



In the cliff was quite a large cave, which had been used as a 

 shelter by Indians — the marks of their fires being still visible 

 within it. Our men took possession of it, built a large fire, and 

 consoled themselves for the fatigues of the day with a dance to 



