WESTERN SHORE — STRONG'S KNOB STATION. 199 



different ranges, so as to obtain their general shape and distances, 

 and sketching in the intervening ground. This course would 

 secure all the ends of practical utility, without the hazard and 

 delay to be incurred by penetrating the desert. 



The hill from which we made our reconnoissance was about three 

 hundred feet high, and consisted of coarsely granular and earthy 

 limestone, terminating to the northward in a perpendicular cliff of 

 the same formation, in horizontal strata of only a few inches in 

 thickness from top to bottom, the whole of which was in a state of 

 rapid disintegration. 



Friday, June 7. — As it was not expected that the line could 

 reach Strong's Knob before the following day, and there was no 

 intervening point that could be reached by the larger boat, pro- 

 visions ready cooked and the blankets of the shore party were 

 transferred to the skiff, whose crew was directed to coast along the 

 shallow water as far south as they could get, and then to land in 

 the bight of the bay and await the coming up of the line. Some 

 drift-wood was cut up and loaded into their boat, to enable 

 them to boil coffee for supper and breakfast. The main camp was 

 taken to Strong's Knob, and pitched at the base of the lofty rocky 

 peak which composes it, and which is about seven hundred feet 

 high. 



Saturday, June 8. — Morning warm and sultry. A station was 

 erected to-day upon the highest peak of this peninsula. A circular 

 stone enclosure was built up about five feet high, within which the 

 feet of a tripod, made of drift-wood poles, were placed, after the 

 area had been filled in with stones and gravel ; the wall was then 

 continued, and the feet of the tripod secured by being built therein. 

 The whole was covered with cotton cloth of different colours, and 

 presented an object that could be easily distinguished in clear 

 weather at a distance of twenty miles. 



After completing the station, and while taking a series of angles 

 upon the surrounding peaks and stations, a most furious gale, with 

 low muttering thunder, came up suddenly from the south, which 

 made it difficult to stand erect in our exposed position. With the 

 gale came a mist, which shortly enveloped the lake and surround- 

 ing mountains, rendering objects a few miles distant so indistinct 

 as at once to put an end to my observations ; and the gale at 

 length rose to such a height that the instrument had to be removed 

 to the shelter of a neighbouring cliff to save it from destruction. 

 The skiff, with the camp-equipage of the shore party, came in 



