PROGRESS OF THE WORK. 187 



a night's repose in the bottom of the boat, without even a blanket 

 to cover us, and a supper and breakfast of raw bacon. 



The shore party had shared but little better than ourselves. 

 Having neglected to provide themselves with the means of making 

 a fire when they left camp yesterday morning, they could cook no 

 food, and were consequently restricted to the same delicate fare 

 as that upon which we had so sumptuously regaled. 



Owing to the character of the ground, the past week has been 

 one of unusual exposure and fatigue to both parties, while the 

 progress of the survey has been by no means commensurate with 

 our exertions. The difficulty of approaching the shore, the im- 

 mense extent of the arid sand-plains, together with the distance 

 of water and fuel, and the labour of obtaining them, have made 

 the duties of the boat's crew, who have been constantly wading in 

 the brine of the lake or plunging and floundering through the 

 deep, soft mud of the marshes, extremely arduous and harassing. 

 The task of the shore party has not been less onerous, owing to 

 the great distances between the camp and their work, the glare 

 from the dazzling white sand, the incessant annoyance of the 

 gnats, and the want of proper food and shelter. We console our- 

 selves, however, with the hope that the worst has been overcome, 

 and that the causes of so much vexation and delay will continue 

 to diminish as we advance to the southward. 



Our stock of flour being diminished to little more than one sack, 

 the coffee to sufficient for but a few days' consumption, and the 

 fresh beef having entirely disappeared, we were reduced to fat 

 salt pork and fried bread. It became necessary to renew our sup- 

 ply; and preparations were made for a start early in the morning 

 for Antelope Island, sixty miles distant, where the cattle and 

 mules were herded, and whence a team could be despatched to the 

 city for what we needed. 



Monday, May 20. — Morning warm and cloudy. The strength 

 of both parties was required to drag the yawl out into water deep 

 enough to float her. After much wading and hauling, this was at 

 length effected, and we set sail. We continued rowing and sailing 

 all the day. At sundown, the wind hauling into the north-west 

 and blowing quite fresh, the crew were sent to their blankets, and 

 I sat at the helm until daylight, occasionally calling the men to 

 the oars when the wind failed. 



I shall never forget this night. The silence of the grave was 

 around us, unrelieved by the slightest sound. Not the leaping of 



