Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-25
Extracts from the Journal Of the Second Ex
pedition)


IL
pedtion)
Great Sab Lakes
Among the useful things which forme
aportIon of our equipage, was an india
rubber boat, Is feet long, made somewha
in the form of bark canoe of the Nor
lhern lakes. The sides were formed b,
Two alright cylinders, eighteen inches IN
diameter, connected with others formint
the bow and stern. To lessen the danger
from accidents to the boat, these were di.
vided into four different compartments,
and the interior space was sufficiently arp,
10 CONAN hye or six persons, and CON
siderable weight of baggage.
Sept, 3-Descending the river for about
three miles IN the afternoon, we found a
bar to any further travelling in that di.
recllon-the stream being spread out in
several branches, and covering the low
grounds with water, where the miry ma
tnre Of the bottom did not permit any fur.
Their advance. We were evidently on the
border OF the lake, although the rushes
ana canes which covered the marshes pre-
vented any view; and we accordingly en-
camped at the little delta which forms the
mouth of Bear river; a long arm of the
IKE stretching up to the north between us
ana the opposite mountains. The whole
morass was animated with muItitudes of
water fowl, which appeared to be very
WHO, rising for the space of mile round
with noise like distant thunder Seye-
raj Of the people waded out into the narsh.
es, and we had tonight delicious supper
OF ducks, geese, and ployer. A mean re
suit, depending on various observations
made during our stay in the neighborhood,
places the mouth of the river in longitude
ll2:l9:30 west from Greenwich: latitude
4E30:22-and, according to the barome
ter in elevation 200 feet above the GuIfI
Of Mexico.
Sept o. Before US was evidently the
bed Of The lake, being great salt marsh, /
perfectly level and bare, whitened in pla.
ces by saline efilorescences, with here and
there pool of water, and having the an.
pearance of very low level sea shore at
low tide. Immediately along the river
was very narrow strip Of vegetation,
consisting ofwillows, heianthi, roses, flow
erlng vines, and grass; bordered on the
verge Of the great marsh by fringe ofsin-
gnlar plants, which appear to be a scrubby
Salicornla, or d genus allied to it.
About II miles to the southwark was
one Of those isolated mountains, now APP
pearIng to be kind Of peninsula; and
towards tins we accordingly directed our Il
course as j probably afforded a good view {
Of the lake; but the deepening mud as we
advanced forced US to return towards the /
river, and gain the higher ground at The '
1901 OF the eastern mountains.
we continued our way along the noun .
tam, having found here broad, plain !,
tFall, over what was apparently the shore Il
o. me lake in the spring; the ground be. I,
ing high and firm, and the soil excellent. ;,
on the plain here noticed blackbirds and \
grouse. In about seven miles. the trail j
brought US to place at the foot of the n
mountain where there issued with consi. :,
uefaole force ten or twelve hot springs, Il
aghIy lmpregnaled with salt. In one Of 1,
.nese, The Thermometer stood at 1856, and n,
% another at 1873 and the water, which 4,
sptead lr pools over the low ground, was n
'oored red An analysis Of the red earthly H.
matter deposited from the springs is APP Of
pended. y y
sept, 6.--Leaving the encampment ear -
" we again directed our course for the n,
pennsular butte across a low shrubby plain q,
crossing IN the way slough.lke creek r.
WIN mlry banks, and wooded with thickets hi
y morn, which were oaded with berries. ID
ms lime we reached the butte without n
ny difficulty, and, ascending to the sum of
ny Immediately at our feet beheld the OBJ. NJ
ec' OF our anxious search--the waters Of Il
y inland Sea, Stretching in still and So m
Hafy grandeur far beyond the limit of ne
'ar vision. II was one Of the great points lie
,he exploration; and rs we locked ca, ob
Fly over the lake in the first emotions IN
fllhis greatest natural wonder of the w
onphentis situated in Northeast Califor- ,,,
"a about equi-distant 1o00mles) from the in,
.'ssourI frontier and the Pacific ocean Mi
~ south of the emigrant road to Oregon. ce
y mperfectly known, but believed TO Sc to
IN ioo miles in length, by so to 80 in we
eaath. Its waters are salter thanthose Of da
Y Y ocean, Several large rivers empty in ISL
~ and unlike the great lakes Of other III
gems y has no outlet 10 the ocean. Ills y.
~ leet above the level Of the gulf Of a
s*lco' Capt. F. is nov absent on ano-
y expedition, one Of the objects Of which anc
''por0ngh exploration Of this Iake.ls ris,