The change from salt to fresh is attributed…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

during a part of their sur- vey in the arid regions, twenty Indians were constantly employed carrying water from the lake over rugged mountains, for the use of the surveyors. The change from salt to fresh is attributed to the great overflow of the Colorado river last year. With great caution was the approach made to the Great Chief and Giana volcanoes. The sulphur-like crust would break beneath the weight of man and jets of steam shoot men- acingly along his trousers, as though giving a warning that the blast furnace of the demons is no place for a man to tread. The warning was heeded, but the explorers went far enough to make photographic views. Then they returned to Lake Jululee, and thence to Mejor Lake, the beauty of which tempted them to remain. With six of his men Colonel Allen viewed the lake of ink, the waters of which are cov- ered by sulphur and iron. Within three or four inches of the banks the stygian pool lies not quietly, but fretted as though anxious to be clear. Near the banks the water is ten feet deep and the temperature is 110 degrees. Ten yards from the shore the bottom is far beyond the reach of the explorer’s line. The heat in- ( 121 ) creases toward the center of the black pool, the thermometer registering 150 degrees.