EXPLORATION OF LAKE BEDS NORTH OF MOHAVE. 
33 
clay bluffs on each side, when we entered the canon, which is about seven miles long, and had 
running water throughout its whole length. The bed of the stream in the canon is from 100 
to 150 feet in width. On either side the clay bluffs rise often over 100 feet. They are vertical, 
and, by the action of the water, the surface has in many places assumed the form of Gothic 
pillars. The clay presents every variety of beautiful and delicate tints—purple, pink, blue, 
yellow, &c. In the canon we found cane growing, similar to that mentioned as found in 
Walker’s Pass, and large quantities of it had been cut by the Indians. We saw, however, no 
fresh Indian signs. 
Upon emerging from the .canon, we entered a sandy plain, and at once lost all signs of the 
river-bed. After travelling 13 miles across this plain, we were fortunate enough to find a hole 
containing water, and here we made our camp late at night. The water was barely sufficient 
for our nearly exhausted animals, and a long time was occupied in giving them a scanty supply. 
This plain had an abundant growth of mezquite trees. We after waids found some uninhabited 
Indian huts near here, and saw an abundance of old Indian tracks, but no Indians. 
In the morning, upon taking a survey of our position, we found we were near the centre of 
an irregularly shaped plain, surrounded by hills. To the southeast appeared an opening, and 
here we concluded was the outlet through which the Mohave continued its course. We went 
in this direction about thirteen miles, the first seven or eight of which were over low sand-hills ; 
but afterwards we travelled in the dry bed of a wash, which we found we were ascending. 
Being convinced that we had left the Mohave, and the men who had been sent in search of 
water having been able to find none, we returned to our camp of the morning. This was 
another very fatiguing day for the animals, and after reaching camp, there being so little water 
in the hole, which filled very slowly, it took till 2 a. m. to water them. We observed to-day 
that to the north of our camp was a large lake-bed, and here we inferred the waters of the 
Mohave were collected. The question now was, whether this lake had an outlet, or whether it 
was a basin, and tbe terminus of the Mohave.' To ascertain this point, Lieutenant Stoneman 
and myself started to examine the lake, which was about fifteen miles long, and covered with 
an incrustation of salt, exceedingly bitter. We, however, returned to camp late, without any 
positive result. Hot being willing to move the command upon an uncertainty, I resolved to 
devote one more day to examination. To the east of our camp was a high range of barren 
mountains, its crest from fifteen to twenty miles distant. Lieutenant Stoneman and myself 
ascended to the summit of one of the nearest peaks, from which we had an extended view. To 
the eastward were to be seen nothing but mountains ; we saw, however, that to the northward 
of the salt lake, and not far distant from it, rvere several other lake-beds. Our view to the 
southward was bounded by mountains. 
The result of these examinations was, that if the Mohave flowed beyond the salt lake, it 
could flow in no other than a northerly direction through these lake-beds, and the only thing 
to be done was to proceed in this direction, though directly contrary to the one we wished to go. 
We had found at the base of the hills, on the edge of the salt lake, several fine springs, 
slightly brackish but not unpalatable. Around these was good grass. The camp was moved 
here, and the animals were refreshed by once more having as much to eat as they wanted. 
On the morning of November 16, at 5 o’clock, we started by fine moonlight and travelled to 
the northern extremity of the salt lake, and thence on to the next one. We found the two con¬ 
nected by a ditch, cut by water in the clay soil, and about twenty feet wide, with banks two 
feet high. The two lakes were from three to four miles apart. The second one was six miles 
