FOSSILS—TULARE VALLEY—COAST MOUNTAINS. 
33 
was made in the mountains in the region of Walker’s Pass. During the absence of this party 
I remained in camp, and had a fine opportunity to examine the geology of the vicinity. 1 
August 9.—Found a thick bed of the relics of shells in one of the hills on the left bank of the 
creek. They are marine fossils and the lime has nearly all been removed, but perfect casts 
remain in the sand and clay, it being firmly cemented by peroxide of iron. Collected numerous 
specimens. 
August 10 and 11.—Engaged upon the locality of fossils and procured fine specimens. In 
another stratum, higher up in the series, found masses of charcoal imbedded with pumice and 
fine sand, also an impression looking like a part of a leaf. 
Our hunters brought in several fine deer and antelope and a small grizzly bear. 
August 12.—Started with Captain Stoneman, Dr. Heerman and Mr. Koppel to go to Kern 
Lake, or the western side of the Tulare valley. We passed down Pose creek for about one mile, 
and then turned to the south over the hills dividing the waters of the creek from those of Kern 
or Posuncula river. These hills, like those at the camp, were composed of argillaceous sand¬ 
stone, and I estimated them to be from five hundred to nine hundred feet high. We followed 
an Indian trail over some of the highest of them. They appear more argillaceous at the top 
than at the base, and are much cut and worn away by water, forming very steep slopes. In 
some places there are great slides of the earth, and vertical cliffs of clay and sand are formed 
nearly two hundred feet high. We reached Posuncula river and passed down its right bank on the 
margin of a slough or bottom-land. Our progress was finally stopped by the thick growth of 
canes, rushes and willows. We retraced our steps and kept on the outside or margin of the 
bottom-land, travelling on the dry and barren plain by an Indian trail. This led to several 
deserted rancherias and play grounds. About eight miles below the point where we first struck 
the stream, the bank of the slough was nearly twenty feet high, and formed a terrace of that 
elevation nearly a mile long, and then sloped down to the general level the of plain. A mile 
and a half beyond, it was again found at about the same elevation and extended three or four 
miles, when it again sloped off and was not found afterwards. This portion of the river bottom 
was without timber ; but the moist land was indicated by a thick growth of grasses of various 
kinds, many of which were collected. Several Indians were seen carrying baskets on their 
backs, and we soon found that they were collecting grass seed, heaps of it being seen. This is, 
probably, a part of their winter food. 
We travelled until after sunset, and not being able to find any water encamped without it 
upon the plain. There was no dew at night. It was almost impossible to sleep, there being 
myriads of mosquitoes. 
August 13.—The thermometer at sunrise indicated a temperature of 58°. We rose early and 
pressed forward towards the hills of the Coast Mountains, which now appeared very near. 
After riding about fifteen miles, we reached the margin of a swamp or low ground, without any 
vegetation except tufts of coarse grass and the common “ grease bush.” The clay, however, 
was soft and charged with water, which stood about one inch deep in the shallows. Beyond, 
and between us and the lower hills of the Coast Mountains, a sheet of water was found to 
extend. It did not appear to be more than half a mile broad, and yet it was, in all probability, 
two miles to the hills. These hills were barren and rounded similarly to those of Ocoya creek, 
which they so closely resemble that I have little doubt of their identity In lithological char¬ 
acter and age. After scooping up enough of the warm, muddy water to make coffee, we 
1 A special description of the geology of this region will he found in Chapter XIII. 
5 F 
