Note 5 — Chapter IV

Another phenomenon that makes the traveler in a dry or desert country afraid to trust his eyes is the mirage. He often sees what seem to be lakes, trees, buildings, cities, only to find on nearer approach that they all disappear. As Kansas has come under cultivation the mirage has become less frequent, but it is still seen in the western part of the State. Here is a description of one seen in early Kansas:

“On approaching the town of Lerny, about a mile and a quarter this side, we found the whole intermediate space between us and the grove of trees beyond the town apparently occupied by a beautiful lake. On the apparent shore next to ourselves the road ran down and disappeared in the lake, as did the fence upon one side of the road, while the placid and beautiful water extended upon the right and left, until lost in the distance. The trees in the distance appeared to be immersed for half their length in the lake, as if growing in the water. Even the reflection of the trees, and of the clouds above, was distinctly visible. We approached the vision and it vanished.”