V of the center section of the enormous

North American continent lies the sad, barren desert, from the old times which served as obstacle in the path of civilization. From the Sierra Nevada to Nebraska, from Iyellouston river on the north to Colorado in the south stretches the country of absence of people and dead silence. But nature and in this sad desolation showed its whimsical disposition. Here are the high mountains, crowned by snowy caps, and dark, gloomy valleys. Here are the rocky gorges, where pass rapid flows, and the enormous plains, in winter white from the snow, and in summer covered with gray solonchak dust but everywhere equally goal, nepriyutno and sadly. V to this country of hopelessness do not live people. Sometimes in the searches for new places for the hunting there zabredayut Indians from the tribe of pouni or chernonogikh, but even the most desperate brave men attempt themselves to faster leave these ominous plains and to return into the native prairies. Here coyotes will rove on the bushes, now and then in air zakhlopayet by wings buzzard, and, heavily falling over, will pass on the dark to hollow gray bear, trying to find subsistence among the naked cliffs. Here, perhaps, and all inhabitants of this backcountry.
Navernoye, no in the world of picture of more cheerless than that which is opened from the northern slope of Sierra- form. Around, to what extent eyes be sufficient, stretches the infinite flat plain, continuously covered with solonchak dust; only somewhere on it grow dark the dwarfish bushes of chapparalya. Far at the horizon rises the long chain of mountains with the toothed apexes, at which becomes white the snow. On entire this enormous space there is neither it is indicative life nor it is trace, left by the living beings. In the bluish- steel sky evidently of birds, and nothing will stir on the dim gray earth complete silence envelops everything. How much neither to strain rumor, in this great desert you will hear nor the least sound, here reigns silence inviolable, oppressive silence. Vyshe it was said that in the plain there are none it was trace living life; perhaps, this is not entirely correct. From the height of Sierra- form is visible the twisting road, which is pulled through the desert and disappears somewhere far. It is furrowed by wheels and is trampled by the feet of many finders of happiness. Along the road, gleaming under the sun, vividly become white on gray solonchak some objects. Approach nearer and you will get accustomed! This of the bone some large and massive, others to pomel'che and to poton'she. Large bones are bull, others human. On one-and-a-half thousand miles it is possible to trace terrible by caravan way on these landmarks the remains of those, who perished in the salt desert.