12 Expedition to the 



In that part of Defile creek, near which we encamped, are 

 numerous dams, thrown across by the beaver, causing it to 

 appear rather like a succession of ponds than a continued 

 stream. As we ascended farther towards the mountains, we 

 found the works of these animals still more frequent. The 

 small willows and cotton-wood trees, which are here in con- 

 siderable numbers, afford them th^iir most favorite food. 



In visiting one of those peculiar tabular hills which mark 

 the border of the secondary region, we crossed a ridgt of 

 sandstone about three hundred feet in height, with strata in- 

 clined to the west. To this succeeds a valley about one mile 

 wide, having a scanty growth of pine and oak. The as- 

 cent of the hill is steep and rugged; horizontal strata of 

 sandstone and coarse conglomerate are exposed on its sides, 

 and the summit is capped by a thin stratum of compact sand- 

 stone surmounted by a bed of greenstone. The loose and 

 splintery fragments of this rock sometimes cover the sur- 

 face and make a clinking noise under the feet like fragments 

 of pottery. 



The summit of the hill is of an oval form, about eight 

 hundred yards in length and five hundred in breadth. The 

 elevation is about one thousand feet, and the height of the 

 perpendicular precipice, from the summit of the debris to 

 the top of the hill, about fifty. 



From this hill the High Peak mentioned by Capt. Pike was 

 discovered, and its bearing found to be S. 50° W. 



Several of the party ascended Defile creek until they ar- 

 rived at the mountains, into which they penetrated as far as 

 was found practicable. As they travelled along the bed of 

 this stream, they found the several rock formations beauti- 

 fully exposed, and in the following order, commencing from 

 the alluvial of the plain on the east. 



First — Horizontal sandstone, embracing extensive beds of 

 coarse conglomerate, and commonly of a light gray or red- 

 dish-yellow colour. 



