COLORADO DESERT-SPRINGS AND WELLS. 
95 
and forms a pool nearly thirty feet in diameter, and three to four feet deep. The cold spring is 
not quite so large, and is only ten feet distant from the other. The water stands at the same 
level in each, and probably commingles, so that, on the side adjoining the warm spring, there 
is hut little difference in the temperature, one being 120°, and the other 82° F. A constant 
odor of sulphuretted hydrogen rises from the water, and pails painted with white lead were 
turned black by it. 
This place was evidently a favorite camping-ground for Indians. When we arrived, many 
Indian boys and girls were bathing in the warm spring, and a group of squaws were engaged 
in cooking a meal for a party returning from a great feast held near Weaver’s ranch, and now 
just terminated. 
A growth of rushes forms a narrow margin of green vegetation around the spring and its 
outlet. Willows and mezquite bushes grow there also; and I found a young palm tree spreading 
its broad, fan-like leaves among them. The surrounding desert, and this palm tree, gave the 
scene an Oriental aspect; and the similarity was made still more striking by the groups of 
Arab-like Indians. 
The ground about the springs was raised so that a slight hank was formed around them. 
This hank may have been formed by the accumulation of sand around the moist earth, and 
among the roots of the plants and grass ; or it possibly was thrown up by the springs, or by 
the Indians in cleaning them out. 
We encamped at this place, not knowing how far we would he obliged to travel before water 
would again be reached. 
November 16 .—Hot Spring to Deep Well, 12 miles .—A slight dew was deposited on the 
blankets during the night, hut this was probably local, and derived from the warm vapor of the 
spring. The water was covered with a cloud of condensed vapor, and its temperature at sun¬ 
rise was only 86°, the air being 46°. It is thus affected by the changes in the temperature of 
the air, the supply not being very rapid. The barometer indicated an elevation of less than 
two hundred feet above the sea. 
On leaving the green hanks of this spring, we again traversed the hare and gravelly surface, 
and skirted the base of the mountains on the right. The rocks were much broken and piled 
together in confusion, the absence of soil and vegetation permitting every inequality to he 
seen. At one point these rocks were found to he composed of quartz, hornblende, and feldspar, 
in nearly equal proportions, forming a compact granite. The quartz and feldspar are disposed 
in small rounded grains, enclosed in thin films of mica. This gives a structural character to 
the mass, and determines a line of easy fracture. The trend of the planes of structure was 
northwest and southeast (magnetic.) 
The whole aspect of the landscape was peculiarly dreary, and but little or no vegetation was 
visible. Numerous varieties of the cactacese began to make their appearance, giving a peculiar 
tropical character to the scene. Some of these plants were tall and cylindrical, four or five feet 
high, and grooved longitudinally. 
Several drifts, and broad thin layers of blown sand were passed. The accumulations vary in 
depth from a few inches to fifteen feet; and the surfaces are beautifully smooth and rounded, 
and generally covered with ripple-marks, similar to those produced under water. As we pro¬ 
ceeded, we found this sand rising into high drifts, which hounded our vision on the left, while 
on the right, the base of the mountains was not far distant. A narrow, hut nearly level valley 
was thus formed. The soil appeared to contain a large portion of clay mingled with the sand, 
