BOCK ABBEY — INDIAN SPRINGS. 173 



To the north, the rugged and rocky eminences gradually recede 

 from the shore ; to which, a few miles farther on, they again return 

 in a superb semicircular sweep ; forming a landscape in the highest 

 degree picturesque and beautiful, to which nothing is wanting but 

 trees. In the centre of the arc a fantastic mass of rock reared 

 its gigantic outline against the sky, presenting from the camp a 

 striking resemblance to an old ruined abbey, glowing and glisten- 

 ing in the rays of the setting sun. 



Immediately behind us rose a rounded knob, some two hundred 

 feet in height, composed of one solid limestone rock, in the cre- 

 vices of which grew, in graceful luxuriance, the everlasting bunch- 

 grass, so characteristic of this region. Upon the shore, among 

 the boulders with which it was thickly strewn, I obtained some 

 fine specimens of dark compact limestone, containing well-defined 

 fossils of Cyathophyllum and Strephtasma. 



The shore party reached camp about dark. They reported find- 

 ing abundance of the finest water at the head of the bay we had 

 crossed to-day, which was easy of access. This was joyful news, 

 as the water we were using was very brackish and nauseous — so 

 much so as to impart a most disagreeable flavour to the strongest 

 coffee. 



Wednesday, May 1. — The survey of the shore-line being in 

 arrears some miles, I availed myself of the opportunity to overhaul 

 the large boat, which was a miserable, lumbering affair, and make 

 such alterations in her as would admit of more convenient and 

 expeditious stowage of the baggage. This having been accom- 

 plished, I started in her for the watering-place. After rounding 

 Flat-rock Point, the water was bold and deep to within a boat's 

 length of the shore opposite the springs. I at once recognised 

 the spot as being the same passed by me on horseback during my 

 reconnoissance of the previous October. 



Several springs here gush out, fresh, clear, cold, and convenient 

 to the shore. As I anticipated the necessity of frequent visits to 

 this spot, for a supply of water for the party when engaged on the 

 western side of the lake, all hands were at once set to work to run 

 out a pier of stones, alongside of which the boat could lie without 

 danger. This was soon done ; some of the springs were cleared out 

 and deepened, and the casks filled, when we returned to camp witl^ 

 a fine fresh breeze. In our progress we passed innumerable flocks 

 of young ducks, which upon our approach dived beneath the sur- 

 face and disappeared. The gnats have at this camp been almost 



