54 EEPOET UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 



taut. All of these lakes are shallow and more or less alkaline. Dur- 

 ing the dry season, the majority of them dry out, leaving white, fre- 

 quently soft, alkaline "flats." The largest lake of the eastern group we 

 have named Death Lake. 



Sweettvater region. — In the vicinity of the, Sweetwater, a number of 

 lakes may be found during the wet season. Very few of them had any 

 water at the time we were there. As the river is so near by, they are of 

 little importance to the traveller. Their water is scarcely fit to drink 

 when it is low, and its existence is not to be depended upon during a 

 large portion of the year. Interesting and comparatively well known 

 to western explorers is the region of Agate Lalces. They are located in 

 the immediate vicinity of the river, north of it, opposite Elkhorn Gap. 

 At that locality moss-agates are scattered in profusion over the soil, 

 whence the name. 



Dispersed throughout the entire area of low country within our dis- 

 trict we find isolated lakes. Unfortunately they are mostly dry during 

 the summer, but early in the season their presence renders travelling 

 "across country" more comfortable than after the beginning of the 

 month of July. In the sand-hills south of Sandy Creek Pass a number 

 of small lakes were found. The loose material has, in the course of time, 

 become sufficiently packed to resist their sinking. 



Springs. 



Cold Springs. — Within the dry region south of the Sweetwater Hills 

 the existence of springs is often an item of personal interest to the trav- 

 ellers. It is scarcely possible, however, to furnish any rule expressing 

 the conditions under which they there make their appearance. Fre- 

 quently they occur near the lakes, and, although the latter may be dry, 

 water can often even then be found in the springs. An unusually green 

 growth of vegetation generally indicates their presence. Near Mount 

 Essex we found a spring of this kind at the southern base of the hill. 

 At the foot of a hill upon which station 25 was located, a spring occurs 

 amid the basaltic rocks, and one lower down in a small meadow. We 

 named the former Basalt Spring. On the road from Whiskey Gap to 

 Eawlings, BelVs Spring furnished a favorite camping-place, and on that 

 from Sandy Creek Pass to Eawlings Brown's Spring answers the same 

 purpose. Cherokee Springs 1 near the town, supply its inhabitants with 

 water. Not unfrequently springs may be found along the borders of the 

 " sand-belt," which extends from Packer's Creek to the Seminole Mount- 

 ains. 



On the steep northward slope of the Sweetwater Plateau springs are 

 quite numerous in the narrow gulches which furrow its face. Usually 

 they are of considerable strength, and send their water a short distance 

 as small creeks. Within the Granite Hills springs may be found near 

 the bases of some of the more isolated points. During the hot season 

 the majority of them is dry, however. 



In the mountains and along the foot-hills springs are of frequent occur- 

 rence. Two very pretty ones were found at Sheep Mountain. One of 

 them was located on the south side of the mountain in the canon of 

 Beaver Creek. Clear, cold water issued from a seam in strata of Car- 

 boniferous limestones. The other exists at the northern base of the 

 same mountain, near Twin Creek. 



The mud springs at Death Lake may be mentioned in this connection. 

 Although furnishing no drinkable water and not obeying the same laws 

 which usually govern the emission of water upon the surface, they afford 



