THE GEYSERS OF MONTANA. 281 
within the rim is forty by sixty feet, and forms a vast mortar bed 
of the finest material. The surface is covered with large puffs, 
and as each one bursts, the mud spurts upwards several feet with 
a suppressed thud. The mud is an impalpable, silicious clay, fine 
enough, it would seem, for the manufacture of the choicest ware. 
The colors are of every shade, from the purest white to a bright 
rich pink. The surface is covered with twenty or thirty of these 
puffs, which are bursting each second, tossing the mud in every — 
direction on to the broad rounded rim. There are several other 
mud puffs in the vicinity, but they do not differ materially from 
the last, except in size.” | 
e now come to the genuine geysers. Fig. 58 gives a view of 
one of the elevated craters called the Bee Hive; another much 
The Bee-bive. . 
. larger is styled the White Dome. ‘The broad mound is fifteen 
feet high, and upon this is a chimney about twenty feet in height. 
The steam issues steadily from the top like a high pressure en- 
gine.” 
We copy Prof. Hayden’s description of this wonderful valley : — 
“Early in the morni ing of August 30, the see! was literally 
filled with a ai steam, ascendin ng from more than a thou- 
vad vents. I can compare e the view to yee: but that of some 
manufac acturing oity like Pittsburgh, as seen from a high point, ex 
cept that instead of the black coal smoke, there are here the white 
aie clouds of steam. 
Scattered everywhere i 
which would otherwise hav 
the columns of steam. It is evident that some of these groups of 
