12 EErOET UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



porary creeks and streams all emptied into " sinks." At times these 

 sinks contained water, as the lake we were camped on — Trail Lake — but 

 mostly they were perfectly dry. This feature is one of great interest, 

 and will be discussed more fully in the geological report. 



Upon examining the surrounding country, we saw that for some time 

 at least we might obtain water from various such lakes scattered through 

 it. On June 24 we broke camp, and, proceeding in a northwesterly 

 direction, reached another body of water about 12 miles distant from 

 the first. On the route we noticed the continuation of the sand-masses 

 which we had first observed near Mount Essex. The character of the 

 country was that of a barren, sterile plain. Sage-brush, cactus, and 

 very scanty grass comprised the entire vegetation. For several weeks 

 we had no fire except that furnished by sage. Huge bushes, sometimes 

 more than a foot in thickness, were met with. They afford a very hot 

 but short fire, and not unfrequently impart a bitter taste to whatever is 

 cooked by their aid. 



Next morning we moved in a northeasterly direction into a long val- 

 ley, where a number of small lakes were found. Antelopes became very 

 abundant, having begun to run in small bands. On that day we found 

 the first tracks of buffalo. Coyotes, lingering around and rapidly dis- 

 appearing upon our approach, gave evidence of the presence of large 

 quantities of game. Wild geese {Branta Canadensis) and ducks (Fuligula 

 sp.) were found in the lakes, but proved to be poor marks for rifle-bullets. 

 Mosquitoes seemed to revive from their winter's sleep, and wood-ticks 

 every now and then made themselves felt. 



To the northeast were a number of high, prominent bluffs, which we 

 desired to visit. Accordingly camp was broken on the 26th of June and 

 moved up the valley. We found a small spring containing good water, 

 and an ample supply of grass in its vicinity. Buffalo-chips served as 

 fuel. Ascending a plateau-like ridge, we rode along this to reach the 

 points which we intended to utilize as stations. Numerous bands of 

 antelope were met with. They would first quietly study our appearance, 

 and then scamper off over the bluffs. Sandstones and shales, belonging 

 to the Tertiary formation, composed the hills, and by their ready disin- 

 tegration rendered the isolated points easy of access. On that day we 

 found the trail of our maiu triangulation party, which had j)assed there 

 more than a week before. Looking northward from our elevated points 

 we could see the granitic hills of the Lower Sweetwater, the distant 

 Wind Eiver Mountains, and, as a dim, cloud-like form, the mountains of 

 the Bighorn Bange. On the south side the white alkali flats, some of 

 them containing water, were very prominent, and beyond them stretched 

 the long belt of yellow sand. Monotonous repetitions of parallel bluffs 

 produced the impression of uninterrupted plains, and offered little that 

 was inviting. 



Leading our camp on the spring on June 2S, we rode in a north- 

 westerly direction, expecting to camp within some granitic hills south 

 of the Sweetwater. A small band of stray cattle, which at first our 

 imagination transformed into buffalo, indicated the vicinity of white 

 man's habitation. We found, upon reaching the granitic area, that this 

 was a continuation of the metamorphics observed southwest of Camp 

 Stambaugh. As farther down on the river, so here the granitic hflls 

 exhibit striking characteristics. They are very rugged, hard to climb, 

 and almost entirely devoid of vegetation. A few scattering jnnes man- 

 age to subsist on the east side in crevices among the rocks. Water was 

 plentiful, occurring in small running streams. 



Early on June 29, just as the mules were being packed, we were sur- 



