LOST MOUNTAINS—SPRINGS—MET AMORPHIC ROCKS. 
S3 
grass. This grass formed a circle about the water nearly thirty feet in diameter, and grew so 
thick and long that the ground was completely hid from view. The water was also partly 
overshadowed by a shrub. The surface about the spring was slightly elevated so as to form a 
mound, the water being in the centre. This elevation may have been formed by earth and sand 
raised up from below by the water, or the moist, grassy surface may have retained sand or dust 
blown about by the wind. The roots of the grass and the decaying stalks have also promoted 
this accumulation. Temperature of the water 64°, air 90°, 1 p. M. The surface, for several 
hundred feet around, gave indications of the presence, at no great distance below, of strata of 
clay: these, perhaps, have forced the water above the surface. No good exposure of the beds 
was found, the superficial covering of gravel and sand being very thick and hiding them from 
view. The rocks composing the ridge were not exposed at the spring, but were over a mile 
distant. On leaving the spring to pass further east, we did not pass sufficiently near these rocks 
to determine their character satisfactorily; but the fragments which had been washed down 
upon the slope consisted of porphyry and dense agate-like masses, delicately banded or striped 
like jasper. In some fragments the layers resembled stratification. 
About six miles beyond the first spring we found a second, on the slope of another ridge. 
We encamped at this spring about sunset, and there was little opportunity to examine the 
rocks, which rose up in long linear outcrops around. They seemed to form a series of narrow 
ridges; and between them, at one point, there were appearances of compact and very hard 
horizontal strata. The general trend of the mountain is N. 25° W. (magnetic.) 
October 12.—At daylight the thermometer indicated a temperature of 40°, and for the water 
of the spring 60°. On the further slope of the mountain another long line of outcrops was 
observed, the trend being N. 50° W. ; the exposure was, however, on a slope, and the trend 
may be parallel with the outcrop noted yesterday evening. The rocks were very peculiar, and 
so different from any commonly known that it is difficult to describe them. A great part of 
them were very hard and chert-like, but had the color of serpentine. Every step brought me 
to phenomena which defied immediate explanation, and not only excited great interest and 
curiosity but deep regret that it was impossible to devote more than a few minutes of the early 
morning to their examination. It is most probable that erupted rocks occur here in connexion 
with metamorphosed strata of several colors. At the north of this ridge, and at the distance of 
two or three miles, we saw the exposed edges of strata in the sides of other ridges. The strata 
appeared to be nearly horizontal, and were variously colored, red and white, looking as if they 
were formed of clay. 
The only green vegetation about the spring was a margin of grass, about three yards wide ; 
and the water lay exposed to the full glare of a scorching sun. 
This spring had evidently been long resorted to by the bands of predatory Indians who 
formerly made constant inroads upon the settlements of the Pacific slope, and drove off horses 
and cattle. Bones and skulls of horses lay around the margin of the spring—relics of the 
feasts that had been enjoyed by the successful thieves. We also found the large horns of the 
mountain sheep lying on the ground. 
We continued our journey eastward from the camp with considerable rapidity, and during the 
day passed along the base of a ridge which is composed of erupted rock of a red or chocolate- 
brown color, and is porphyritic. It was completely bare of vegetation, and the highly-colored 
cliffs rising above the arid surface presented a desolate volcanic appearance under the rays of 
an unclouded sun. A striped or belted character was distinctly presented by the greater part 
