. Personal narrative of explorations and incidents in Texas, New Mexico, California, Sonora, and Chihuahua : connected with the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission, during the years 1850, '51, '52, and '53 . sion of such a remarkable spotas this, the writer should be familiar with volcanic regionsand know something of similar phenomena. The actionhere was confined within a narrow ravine, in the moun-tain side, running nearly at right angles with PlutonRiver, which we had crossed. The banks were fromone hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fiftyfeet in height, breaking in from t
. Personal narrative of explorations and incidents in Texas, New Mexico, California, Sonora, and Chihuahua : connected with the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission, during the years 1850, '51, '52, and '53 . sion of such a remarkable spotas this, the writer should be familiar with volcanic regionsand know something of similar phenomena. The actionhere was confined within a narrow ravine, in the moun-tain side, running nearly at right angles with PlutonRiver, which we had crossed. The banks were fromone hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fiftyfeet in height, breaking in from the mountain, whichrose up from ten to fifteen hundred feet above, andwere wholly composed of decomposed rocks. In thechasm beneath us, columns of steam were spouting outon every side; while deep at the bottom, ran a smallrivulet. Vegetation of luxuriant growth crowded closeupon the crumbling rocks, consisting of various kindsof shrubbery, pines, oaks, firs, &c. We clambered down to the spot where the scoriaor burnt rock first appeared, and seated ourselvessunder the shade of a pine tree. From this point Ittook a sketch looking down the gorge. On each sideof where we sat, some twenty or thirty feet below, a. AND RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO. 41 small stream came tumbling down, concealed from viewby dense foliage, and united at the base of a juttingmass of rocks, as seen in the sketch. I thrust a staff,which I carried with me, some three or four feet intothe crumbled granite beneath; which led us to thinkit not quite safe to remain where we were. From thisplace, we got down with some difficulty to the bottomof the gorge, where the main stream ran. The waterwas here cold and pure, exhibiting no unpleasant few yards further brought us into the midst of thepuffing geysers, or steam-jets ; for I knew not by whatother name to call them. Fumes of sulphur here metour nostrils at every step, while the rustling steam, asit spouted from a hundred cavities, completely envel-oped us. The
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