The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-12

for twenty feet or more into the lake, where
the shelf breaks off perpendicularly, and
there no bottom has ever been found. To
the touch the water feels smooth and oily.
The ashes and oil which covers 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 il does not
color the skin of those who battle in it.
Under a glass the coloring mater seems
to be minute black substance held in sus-
pension BY the water. which adheres TO
white cloth immersed in the lake. To the
taste the water is warm, salt and bitter.
10 the bather the sensation on entering the
water is grand. celebrating TO a wonderful
degree, so much so that q bath Of ten or
fifteen minutes makes one feel as if he were
under the influence of the very best brandy.
Millions of bubbles, formed by the escaping
gases, Keep the surface Of the lake agitsted
at all times, till it rolls, boils and foams as
II ready TO break over its banks aud escape
and again only in myriads Of sparkling
glooules, glitterng in the sunlight. When
ever the volcanoes rage with anger the lake
loAows, 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,
lar and wide, at war or IN peace, as the
great all-healing remedy, following a bath
IN the hot mud of the peaceable volcanoes
Tor all levers, rheumatism, scrofula and
venereal diseases. They take the Invalid
and bury hin, all but his ears, eyes and
mouth In the hot volcanic mud for from
twenty TO thirty minutes then carry him.
covered with mud, on a blanket. the so or
100 feet to the edge Of the lake and put him
luto the water, holding his head above it,
Tor II teen 10 thirty minutes, then rolling
MIN IN his blanket, they carry him few
feet away, to a shade which they have pro-
vided, and lay him on the hot sulphurous
sand or rock, and there let him sweat.
fhey repeat this in the afternoon.
AT night they move him to place where
me ground is not quite so warm and let him
sleep, and if possibl where ne can breathe
the gases or vapors Of the neighboring vol
canoes. A few white men have been there
and tried the remedies, and taus far with
out single failure. The Indians also
drink the hot water from some of the
springs, but not from ell. Whenever they
approach this strange, weird scene, this
barren waste. even when they come on
their trips for salt. which lies In great BEDS
mile or so beyond they stop on the high
est mound and with one hand shading the
eyes they screech and cry with that fear
iul yell Of "trs, ira, la, Ia, hoop, va, lip.lip,
500, 90. 90, Ia" which makes your blood
run little faster in its channels. and then
they wait to see if the gods of the desert
are there to assist them
Ii all IS still, with naught but the half
smothered groans, muttering and under
ground heavings Of these mysteries of
wonderland, y they turn sadly away to
come again some other time But If after
the third wild Shrek or cry of theirs. old
or some of his consorts answer
With volume Of mud thrown high in the
air as salute, then the Indians rush for
heir regal baths of mud, more than con-
tented that the desert gods will hear and
answer their wild mans prayer.