24 The West American Scientist. 
VI. INDIAN oR FISH SPRINGS 
At Indian springs, some fifteen miles northwest of the South- 
ern Pacific railway station called Salton, were found several 
large pools of rather warm water, surrounded with an almost im- 
penetrable mass of tules, cane grass and mock willows (plushea 
borealis). A little fish was found quite abundant in these pools, 
and also at the similar pool at Dos Palmas springs, on the other 
side of the railroad. _ The mesquite and screw bean, coldenia. 
palmeri, heliotropium curassavicum, distichlis, and the 7ze¢ta 
grass, (Hilaria rigida, nunb.), sedges and junci, formed the 
bulk of the wild vegetation. A tall cottonwood and two or three 
young palms were growing at the Indian rancherie, where a 
white man had planted a small grove of fig and other fruit trees; 
some years ago. The figs are doing well and the Indians raise 
early vegetables, melons, etc.—enough for their own needs. They 
were harvesting a good supply of the mesquite beans at the time 
of our visit, picking the pods from the trees and grinding into 
meal, forming large cakes, and baking them in the sun, for 
future use. 3 
VII.—THE BasIN. 
The next stretch of country, from Indian springs to Salton, 
is quickly described. Salton is said to be 250 feet below sea. 
level, and the intervening land between the station and Indian: 
springs is lower still, and strongly impregnated with alkali. The 
vegetation on this low land consists almost exclusively of sali- 
cornia——and that very scattering, or wholly absent in many 
places. A dead mesquite, a suaeda and two atriplex plants: 
were the only additional plants observed. ‘Dry Lake’ lies south- 
east of the route followed, adjoining Salton on the south, and is 
totally devoid of vegetation. The ground is too soft to allow of 
man or beast crossing——the ‘ dry bog’ swallowing up anything 
that ventures upon it. The dry bogs may be considered one of 
the greatest dangers connected with the desert. 
VIII.—-SaLton To Dos PALMAS SPRINGS. 
Between Salton and the Dos Palmas springs the vegetation 
was found similar to that between Borrego and Indian springs. 
At Dos Palmas springs we leave the desert basin and enter into 
the Chuckawalla (or Lizard) mountains. 
Lee PALMAS SPRINGS. 
At Dos Palmas springs (so called from its two fine palm trees) 
were hundreds of mesquite, screw bean and other trees of the 
same order, and luxuriant cane grass and tules around the pools 
of water. The following is a list of the principal plants noted 
in the vicinity: 
