In the context of the sentence, the word "inhabited" means that the towns or camps were occupied or lived in by people, specifically the bands of prospectors mentioned. It indicates that these places were not just empty or abandoned, but had residents who lived there for a certain period of time before leaving them for better opportunities.
2 While exploring the mountain ranges of the state during three summers, I have seen at least five of these deserted towns and villages. Some of them were probably only camps built by bands of prospectors, inhabited for a few months or years, and then carelessly abandoned for more promising fields. Many were real towns, regularly laid out and incorporated, containing well-built hotels, churches, schoolhouses, post offices, and jails, as well as the mills on which they all depended.What do you think the word inhabited means as it is used in this sentence?
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