Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-11
@E!dRllRg4S
A LAKE OF INK.


A Rem arkab1e Body Of Water In the
Volcanic Region of Arizona.
Nearly all of the $500 Cocopah vol
canoes In Arizona are situated near the
east end Of the volcanic area which they
occupy. Several large mounds, once
living volcanoes, are now quiet. Be-
tween the hills Of lava, rock and debris
are large number Of living, active vol
canoes. From the sides OF the hill, %
to 200 feet above the surrounding wa
ters, come forth most beautiful springs
of clear, warm water, some so sour,
others SO sweet, so bitter and so strongly
alkaline that no living being or animal
can drink it. These waters course down
the hillsides, laying coat of white,
pink, purple, blue or green, made by the
mineral salts they contain, upon every
thing with which they come in contact.
In the midst of these hills is the Lake
of Ink. There run into 1t scores OF
streams Of clear mineral hot water,
others that are warm and two that are
cold. The lake, one-fourth of mile in
length and one-eighth in width. lies like
gem set in these hills or these ancient
volcanoes. The black, inklike water
which fills the lake comes NJ to within
three or four inches of the level of its
shores. The temperature near the edge
is about 110 degs., gradually growing
warmer as you get down In it, and az
you approach the center of the lake, on
the surface, it is about f56 de g., and at
depth Of $50 feet it is ZIG degs.
Near the shore ON the east south and
west sides the water is only four to six
feet in depth for twenty feet or more
into the lake, where the shelf breaks of
perpendicularly, and there no bottom has
ever been found. To the touch the
water feels smooth and oily. The ashes
and oil which cover, the lake when its
waters are quiet are from one-half an
| inch to an inch thick. The water Of the
lake is jet black, though it does not
color the skin Of those who bathe in it.
Under a glass the coloring matter
seems to be a minute black substance
held in suspension by the water, which
adheres to white cloth immersed In the
lake. To the taste the water is warm.
salt and bitter. To the bather the sem
sation on entering the water is grand,
exhilarating to wonderful degree, SO
much so that bath Of ten or fifteen
minutes makes one feel as If he were
under the influence of the very best
brandy. Millions CT bubbles, formed
by escaping gases, keep the surface of
the lake agitated at all times, till 1t
rolls, boils and foams as if ready to
break over its banks and escape, and
again only in myriads of sparkling
globules, glittering in the sunlight.
Whenever the volcanoes rage with anger
the lake follows, and the sight of its
maddened waters is well worth seeing.
From time immemorial these waters
have been used by the different tribes Of
Indians, far and wide, at war and in
peace, as the great all healing remedy,
following bath in the hot mud of the
peaceable volcanoes, for all fevers.
rheumatism, scrofula and venereal dis
eases. They take the invalid and bury
him, all but his ears, eyes and mouth,
in the hot volcanic mud for from TWEEN.
ty to thirty minutes, then carry him
covered with mud on blanket the so
or 100 feet to the edge of the lake and
put him into the water, holding his head
above it, for from fifteen to twenty min
utes.
Then, rolling him in his blanket, they
carry him a few feet away to a shade
which they have provided, and lay him
on the hot, sulphurous sand or rock, and
there let him sweat. They repeat this
in the afternoon, At night they remove
him to place where the ground is not
80 warm and let him sleep, and if pos
sible where he can breathe the gases or
vapors of the neighboring volcanoes
The cures wrought are perfectly won
derful, and could not be believed if not
seen. A few white men have been there
and tried the remedies, and thus far
without single failure. Philadelphia
Telegraph.