Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-12
PYRAMID lake.


J. q. Lammon, i'll the San Francisco
Rural Press, writes that Pyramid
Lake is vast, gloomy, awe-inspiring
sea, low sunk in its long, sandy, vol
canic bed. First, before even a sweep
ing glance, taking in the whole grand
scene, the eye rests enchanted upon a
pair of objects directly in front. The
heart throbs violently. You can scarce
believe your eyes. You must be trans
ported to Egypt, for there are the
Pyramids. The nearest, square-sided
and true as if hewn with masonic skill,
towers up 800 feet from the apparent
center OF the lashing waves. The
other completes the Egyptian picture
by presenting tiat-topped area, which
4 nearer view reveals white with thou
sands of pelicans. It is these wonder
ful symmetrical monuments which
gave the lake its name. 1t could bear
no other. Even the Piute name "Pe-
nock-thou," refers to the Pyramids.
The Truckee river pours its torrents
CtdSC4CssAy lUlp h4lAS buA
never disgorging sea. The rich bottom
land-tho delta of the Truckee-with
a large region round, including the
whole of Pyramid lake and its shore
for mile inland. is reserved by the
Government for the occupation of the
Hiute nation. The agency buildings
are in shady grove, and hundreds OF
"wickeups" are scattered among the
trees. Willow fences enclose the rich
est lands, and the Indian is instructed
to till them, but Mr.. Pluto finds it too
much like work. So he lives mainly
upon trout caught in the lake, rabbits
hunted in the sagebrush and supplies
dispensed from the agency. The num-
Der OF Indians differs constantly,
owing to their migratory habits, from
only a hundred 10 often a thousand.
Excessively fond of gambling and
whisky, they are fast perishiug away.
PYRAMID CoSIRAsTED WITH TAHOE
LAKE.
No two objects in nature Of the same
name, probably, can present SO many
contrasts as Tahoe and Pyramid lakes;
the one pouring its pure, wholesome
waters by the Truckee river into the
sink of the other; the one elevated
6,420 feet above sea level into the cool
cloud land, the other depressed 5000
feet into the trecless plain, scorched
by the glaring sunlight; the one bor-
dered by bright meadows and dense
evergreen forests, the other trimmed
by alkali fats and bold reaches of sage
brush; the one a source of unmeas-
ured wealth to the cities OF Nevada
through its forest and meadow pro-
duets, the other utterly worthless,
ho1rid incubus resting upon the fair
face of the State; the one attracting 10
its shores on all sides thriving villages
occupied by cultivated and happy peo-
pie, the other presenting a smooth
shore-line of 100 miles, broken by
only one little grove Of cottonwoods.
the wretched shelter of small band
of savaGes, vanishing Piutes; the one
flecked with the white sails ofthe pleas
ure boat and striped with the broad
trail Of the steamer, the other unre-
lieved through all its expanse save
only few Indian canoes and thou
sands of pelicans riding its turbid
waves; the one the far sought resort
annually of hundreds of invalids
whom but its miraculous climate can
restore, the other only visited per force,
by the ranchman who must enter this
malarious valley in search of rowing
stock; the one inspiring with the
grandest thoughts by its sublime seen
cry, the other depressing almost to
nausea by the monotony of its sur
roundinSs; the one raising the soul
up to conception of the might, per-
lection and benevolence of the Creator,
the other tempting the reason to dis
trust the wisdom of Being who
could have need of any such odious
thing in his process of matchmaking;
the one glimpse OF Paradise, the
other vision of Hades; the one a
jewel. the other its dross; the one
i.