JOHN C. FREMONT. 247 



mediately at the mouth of the Sand Hill Pass, one 

 of the most practicable in the Sierra Blanca, and 

 above those usually travelled, at one of the remotest 

 head-springs of the Huerfano River, the eye of the 

 traveller follows down without obstruction or abrupt 

 descent along the gradual slope of the valley to the 

 great plains which reach the Missouri. The straight 

 river and the open valley form, with the plains be- 

 yond, one great slope, without a hill to break the 

 line of sight or obstruct the course of the road. On 

 either side of this line hills slope easily to the river, 

 with lines of timber and yellow autumnal grass, and 

 the water which flows smoothly between is not in- 

 terrupted by a fall in its course to the ocean. The 

 surrounding country is wooded with pines and 

 covered with luxuriant grasses up to the very crags 

 of the central summits. On the 8th of December 

 we found this whole country free from snow; and 

 Daguerre views taken at this time show the grass 

 entirely uncovered in the passes. 



"Along all this line the elevation was carefully 

 determined by frequent barometrical observations, 

 and its character exhibited by a series of daguerreo- 

 type views, comprehending the face of the country 

 almost continuously, or at least sufficiently so to 

 give a thoroughly correct impression of the whole. 



"Two tunnel-like passes pierce ttc mountains 



