1895.] In the Region of the new Fossil, Demonelizx. 223 
cowboy and the ranchman that but a few years ago held en- 
tire control of the region. Scattered about the valley, some 
near, some far off, appear light colored patches sparkling in 
the sunlight. In the midst of some of them conical mounds 
rise up like lonely beacons. These are the Bad-lands of Sioux 
County, the Mauvaises terres of the French Canadian traders, 
and the Ma-koo-tscha of the Dakotas. 
These bare looking spots one finds upon nearer approach to 
be great “ wash-outs” at the head of the numerous branches 
of the streams flowing into Hat Creek. In some cases they 
may be five or six square miles in extent or more, and 
offer some of the finest erosion scenery, perhaps, to be found 
anywhere. The whole extent of country covered by them 
is cut up into numerous and intricately branching pre- 
cipitous ravines. The tops of the divides between the 
branches are worn down to knife-like edges, but not infre- 
quently a large plot may be entirely cut off from the upland 
and present the appearance of a small table-land. It is nearly 
impossible for a traveller to pass through the labyrinth of 
ravines with a team ; even to one on foot they present innumer- 
able difficulties. They illustrate vividly the method by which 
nature may level the largest of continents. 
From the high ridge bordering the valley on the south a 
descent can be made only through some of the large ‘cafions 
cutting back into it. One of these is Sowbelly Cafion, which 
received its euphonious name from the fact that in the time 
of Indian troubles a body of troops became surrounded while 
passing through it, and were kept there so long before assist- 
ance came that they had nothing to eat but bacon, or, as it is 
called by the soldiers, sowbelly. Like the other large cafions 
it has a small stream of clear and good water, and on its sides 
is covered by trees and underbrush. ‘The walls rise often 
perpendicularly, their whitish surfaces glistening in the bright 
sunlight. In some places they are broken through by branch- 
ing cafions, and the isolated head- lands form buttes of strik- 
ing beauty. Sometimes they simulate the works of man. 
One in particular, near the lower course of the cañon, looks 
like a gigantic castle in ruins. Here and there great breaches — 
