In one respect this country has characteristics seldom met with in any part of the globe.  Large numbers of the lakes and rivers have no outlets.  Such is the fact in regard to Carson Lake.  The only means by which their waters are reduced is by evaporation.  The Great Salt Lake of Utah, to the traveler is of great interest.  It may well be called the Dead Sea of Utah.

As has been seen, Col.  Cook and party were now halted at a Mexican village on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande or del Norte.

The party that had been sent back with the wounded man, while on their journey met and captured an Indian.  Supposing him to be an Apache, they deprived him of his horse and arms and otherwise treated him as a prisoner.  While they were en route, the Indian made his escape and joined his tribe.  This captive they afterwards learned was a Utah, whose tribe had the external appearance of being friendly towards the whites, although there were existing good reasons for doubting their sincerity.  Col.  Cook, fearing that such treatment might offer the Utahs a plausible excuse for openly declaring war, determined to clear himself of censure by making such reparation as was in his power.  Accordingly, he dispatched Kit Carson to the head-quarters of his Agency, in order to settle matters.  On reaching Taos, Kit Carson sent an expressman to the Utah village with the request that their chiefs would come and have a talk with him.  They obeyed his summons, and when they were seated in Council with their “Father Kit,” he explained to them how that the soldiers had taken prisoner their brave through mistake and ignorance.  He informed them, that his countrymen did not wish to do their tribe any injury, and he trusted that they would overlook the affair; advising them that the best way to show to the white men that their intentions were honest would be by not rendering aid to the Apaches.  He said that he had not sent for them through fear, as their warriors were but a handful when compared to the soldiers of their “Great Father;” but the main object, always to be held in view in their deliberations, was to cultivate friendship, as the country was large enough for both parties to live in.  The Indians replied that they were satisfied with the explanation made to them, and declared that their hearts were not in the least inimical towards the whites.  On hearing this, Kit Carson restored to them the captured property, and also made to the chiefs themselves a few useful presents.

Col.  Cook, after granting a sufficient rest to his men, and after obtaining supplies at Abiquiu, started out again to hunt the Jiccarillas.  He was so fortunate soon after as to find a fresh trail, and in hot haste followed it for several days, when, unfortunately, he was caught in a furious snow-storm which obliterated the tracks of the Indians, besides otherwise greatly damaging his resources.  The fair prospects of a successful termination to the