6 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



the absence of Indian trails. This indicated a scarcity of water, grass, 

 and game. Subsequently we found these indications amply borne out 

 by facts. Having ascended a high ridge, we saw before us a series of 

 gullies and small canons that presented very typically the aspect of the 

 Wasatch group. Vertical or very steep walls of sandstone and marl 

 were carved by erosion. Bright colors, white, yellow, orange, red, and 

 maroon, blending in beautiful harmony, tended to complete the picture. 

 Scattering pines and cedars relieved the uniformity of rock-exposures. 

 By four o'clock we had not found any water, although we were within the 

 limits of a small group of basaltic hills. Between our position at that 

 time and the highest hill of that region stretched a band of loose sand 

 about 4 miles wide. Biding over this mass, which has been accumulated 

 here and elsewhere by the prevailing westerly winds, our mules sank 

 in knee-deep. Tired as they were by their march, carrying heavy loads 

 for the first time after months of inactivity, they became very much 

 fatigued. About sundown we reached the base of the hill for which we 

 had been heading all day, and, after wading through a swamp, treach- 

 erous and filled with quicksands, we struck camp near a small spring. 

 Close by was a lake of considerable size, the white shores of which indi- 

 cated the nature of its water. Timber was a scarce article, and sage-brush 

 furnished the fire for cooking and for warming ourselves after a chilly, 

 wet day. The hill or mountain at the base of which we were encamped 

 we named Essex Mountain* For two days our camp remained stationary, 

 while stations were made on the hills within a radius of 15 miles. We 

 then found that reaching this j)oint had been very fortunate, as no water 

 was to be seen for many miles. 



On June 6, we rode from Mount Essex in a westerly direction. For the 

 first time a few antelope appeared, but they were very shy, and some 

 bullets sent into their vicinity at 600-yard ranges oidy added to their 

 fear, without furnishing us with any fresh meat. Toward evening we 

 encamped on a creek, Avhich we named subsequently White Horse CreeTc. 

 During the day we had followed a dim wagon-road, which, so far as we could 

 determine, is what some maps designate as "Evans' route," or the " Old 

 Overland Stage Boute." Before long, however, we were obliged to leave 

 it and keep to the left. Alkali water was found in the creek, which at 

 first the animals refused to drink. Sage-brush here grows to such a size 

 that the appellation of " sage-trees " would be justifiable, and it furnished 

 the material for fire. Leaving this camp we continued our journey west- 

 ward, intending to reach the nearer drainage of Big Sandy Creek. Dur- 

 ing the day, while riding in the creek valley, we discovered a white horse, 

 which was captured after a short rim. It was not one of the noble ani- 

 mals which roam in herds over the " boundless prairie," but was blind, 

 had a stringhalt, and still carried two shoes. We noticed that a portion 

 of its back was covered with wool-like hair, about one and a half inches 

 thick. At the time, this was shedding. About noon we crossed an old 

 emigrant-road, where the deeply-cut furrows told a tale of the hundreds 

 and thousands who had passed over it, some going to their fortunes, others 

 miserably to perish. About three o'clock the sight of telegraph poles 

 showed us that we had reached the stage and mail road between Bryan Sta- 

 tion and Camp Stambaugh. We followed it over a rolling country, until, 

 at sundown, we arrived at Dry Sandy Station. This name is aptly chosen. 

 A wide creek-bed is filled to the depth of several feet with fine, light-yellow 

 sand, perfectly dry, except during the seasons of highest water. For a 

 long distance this bright line could be traced, meandering its course 

 through the surrounding sage-brush, until it was lost as a mere silvery 

 line hi the distance. At midnight, after having camped, I took the stage 



