AND RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO. 39 
night’s rest; and took a bath in the waters of a little 
stream that tumbled down within twenty feet of our 
camp-fire, by which time our breakfast was ready. 
This was a counterpart of yesterday’s dinner, viz., 
bear’s meat, venison, hard-bread, and coffee. Having 
dispatched it, we set off for the geysers: Dr. Webb, 
with his hammer and leather bags for minerals, and 
with boxes and bottles for small zoological specimens ; 
Mr. Thurber, with his portfolio for plants; and I, with 
my sketch-book. We were all provided with pistols or 
rifles besides. It would have been easier and attended 
with less risk, to make the descent on foot; but we 
were obliged to go on horseback, on account of having 
to ford the stream. The riveror creek was from thirty 
to forty feet wide where we crossed it, about half up 
the horse’s middle, and very rapid. On either side, 
the banks were rocky and steep, rendering it some- 
what difficult, though with steady animals not a dan- 
serous passage. About a quarter of a mile from the 
opposite bank we dismounted, unsaddled our animals, 
and staked them out to feast themselves on the rich 
clover which there abounded, and then completed our 
journey on foot. A few hundred yards brought us to 
the first of the geysers, or “volcanoes,” as they were 
called by our guide. I should not forget to remark, that 
we saw in several ravines, as we passed along, traces of 
former volcanic action. The rocks were bare, and ina 
decomposed state, showing the effects of heat or fire, 
although no heat was then perceptible. 
At the first place we stopped, there was a show of 
about half an acre of decomposed granite, and other 
rocks, from cavities in which issued fumes of sulphur 
