172 FLAT-ROCK POINT. 



the strains of one of the most execrable fiddles I ever listened to 

 anywhere. 



The water all the way from Promontory Point is very shallow 

 for a long distance from the shore, which is generally sandy, with 

 pebbles ; the detritus from the range being mainly quartzose pud- 

 ding-stone, hornblende, quartz, and granite. 



Tuesday^ April 30. — Moved camp again to-day in search of 

 the springs of water I had passed on horseback in October last. 

 The day was calm and warm, and the atmosphere balmy and de- 

 lightful. In the course of the morning we descried from the 

 boats a patch of reeds on the shore, which our experience had 

 taught us to be an indication of fresh water. We accordingly 

 landed, and found some very indifferent brackish water by digging. 

 Fearful lest we should obtain none better, we filled our vessels and 

 embarked. Crossing a shallow reef of flat rocks, extending from 

 the shore for several miles, we struck at once into deep water — 

 the southern extremity of a large bay with a bold shore, encircled 

 by high and picturesque mountains. The w^ater was twenty feet 

 in depth, and gradually increased to thirty feet, which continued 

 to a projecting rocky point, crossed by a well-defined Indian trail. 

 Near the extremity of the spur is a remarkable cliff, or projection, 

 which towers above the surrounding mountains, forming a promi- 

 nent and impressive feature in a landscape full of wild and peculiar 

 beauty. 



The ridge of which this formed the apex is composed of black, 

 blue, and ash-coloured limestone of a very close texture, seamed in 

 all directions by small veins of white carbonate of lime, producing 

 a very pretty appearance. It would make beautiful mantels and 

 tops for tables, could it be quarried in slabs of sufficient size. 

 Calcareous tufa is forming in large quantities near the base of the 

 mountain. The hillsides contain numerous caves, some of which 

 are of considerable size. Stretching off from the point to the 

 south-west is a ledge of flat sandstone rock, lying in from one to 

 two feet water, which makes a large shoal in that direction. The 

 lower portion of the point itself, extending from the base of the 

 cliff, is also of this rock, lying horizontally about two feet above 

 the level of the water. From the prevalence of this rock here we 

 called it Flat-rock Point, Rounding the prominence, the boat 

 was run into a little rocky cove, and the camp pitched in a thicket 

 of grease-wood and artemisia, just above the storm-line of the lake — 

 which is here very determinate. 



