CHAPTER HI. 



COL. FREMONT'S THIRD EXPEDITION, AND ITS RESULTS. 



COLONEL FREMONT spent the remainder of 1844 

 in preparing for the press the reports of the expe- 

 dition which he had just completed. Early in the 

 ensuing spring he commenced his third great expe- 

 dition, the object of whicn was to explore the interior 

 region known as the Great Basin, and the maritime 

 country of Oregon and California. Some months 

 were spent by him in examining the head-waters of 

 the great rivers in that region, which flow in differ- 

 ent directions into both oceans. In October, 1845, 

 he again reached the Great Salt Lake. He encoun- 

 tered many strange adventures in exploring the 

 country which has since become the familiar home of 

 the disciples of Joseph Smith, the Mormon impostor. 

 He travelled thence southward toward the confines 

 of California, and visited the tract which has since 

 become well known under the title of Mariposas. 

 At length he reached the confines of the " Great 

 California Valley," in which is situated the city ot 

 Monterey. Here he was met by an unexpected 



18G 



