4 SMlTIISOiNIAN MISCELLANKOUS COLLRCTIONS VOL. 97 



/liiijusi ij.- -A (lay <it much I'likTcst for (iil)l).s. Left camp at 4 

 in the moniiiii^' and, as llie journal continues (p. 196) : 



We travelled, however, rapidly for about eight miles . . . until we arrived 

 at the creek again. At this place we waited for our wagons, which soon came 

 up ; and, having assisted them out of the canon, which was no easy work, we 

 continued on until the middle of the day, when we again came to the banks of 

 the river, which were at least two or three hundred feet in height. I attempted 

 to descend into the valley through which the river ran, for the purpose of 

 procuring water, but it was so fatiguing, both for myself and horse, that I 

 returned without being able to accomplish it. 



It was at this place we could easily hear the sound of a waterfall, which, 

 from the noise, we at first supposed might have been the Little Falls of Snake 

 river ; but, as we were still twenty miles from that point, we were soon 

 satisfied that it did not proceed from there, or the small cascade on the opposite 

 bank, which is mentioned by Colonel Fremont as the Subterranean river ; and 

 we were much surprised to learn, the next day, that within ten miles of this 

 place there is a cascade, which, in height, is not surpassed by the Niagara 

 Falls. The guide, who was with the command, having travelled this route very 

 often, was shown the place by an Indian, and took Mr. Gibbs, of New York, 

 and Lieutenant Lindsay to the place, who pronounced it one of nature's great 

 wonders. The river here becomes a little contracted, and passes through a 

 chasm of soHd rock ; it commences to fall about a quarter of a mile above the 

 last pitch, and, after forcing itself among loose rocks which lay in its way, 

 takes a perpendicular pitch of at least 160 feet, and it is even thought to be a 

 greater height. They descended to the foot of the falls, and after much difficulty 

 and some length of time, where they were better able to judge more accurately 

 of its great height ; and there seems to be but one opinion, that it equalled in 

 grandeur, in proportion to the column of water, the Niagara Falls. Having 

 been the first who had ever taken the trouble to examine them carefully, and 

 wishing to change the name said to have been given by a priest many years 

 since, they decided on that of the Great Shoshonie falls, instead of Canadian, 

 as being the most appropriate. 



The road does not pass there, and probably its nearest point is not less than 

 eight or ten miles, which is probably the reason why it is so little known, for 

 I have never seen it mentioned by those who have trapped in this country for 

 years . . . 



We continued our jtiurney until sundown, when we came to the foot of the 

 little falls on Snake river, commonly called the Little Salmon Falls, and 

 encamped for the night immediately on the banks of the river. 



The drawings of the falls made hy (lihbs that day are reproduced 

 in plate 2. This was the first mention of (iibbs by Major Cross. 

 The expedition continued through the mountains until (p. 210) : 



September 4. — Mountains were to be seen all around, and it appeared a 

 mystery how we had extricated ourselves from those left behind us with so 

 little difficulty, or how we were to pass those ahead of us. This brought us 

 again on Burntwood creek, where we encamped for the night . . . 



The ravine through which the Burntwood passes is too narrow to be culti- 

 vated, but the soil is rich and ought to yield well. The evening was spent in 



