CHAPTER VII. 



route from shasta valley, east of shasta butte, to fort 

 reading; explored by lieut. r. s. Williamson, united states 

 topographical engineers, in 1851. 



Explanation. — Party. — Yrkka in 1851. — Start. — View of two passes. — Wright lake. — Water hole. — Porcupine killed. — 

 Turned rack. — Pass. — Extended view. — Pumice-stone. — Difficult travelling. — No water or g-rass. — Natural rridoe. — 

 Pedregal — Water, in fissure. — Branch of fall river. — Fall river. — Ford. — Indians. — Pit river. — Tule raft. — 

 Expedient. — Pass through western chain of sierra Nevada. — Battle creek. — Cow creek. — Settlements. 



As Lieut. Williamson proposed to add a short description of this expedition to his report, I 

 have compiled the following sketch from his field notes. 



The exploration was made in accordance with instructions from Major P. Kearney, 1st 

 dragoons. Lieut. Williamson's party consisted of twenty civilians, one of whom was Mr. 

 Freaner, subsequently killed hy the Pit river Indians near the lake that now bears his name. 

 The expedition started from Yreka, then a little town called Shasta Butte city, and composed of 

 about forty houses made of canvas and wood. The population may bo estimated from the fact 

 that five hundred and ninety-nine votes were polled for alcalde when Lieut. Williamson was 

 there. On July 3, a depot camp was made on Willow creek, about sixteen miles from the 

 town, and the preparations for the exploration commenced. A prismatic compass, with a sextant 

 and artificial horizon, were the only available instruments. 



July 8. — To-day we started, and, after travelling about fifteen miles over a good route, 

 encamped near Sheep Rock. 



July 9. — After passing over, a gentle divide northeast of Sheep Eock, the road skirted a plain 

 evidently covered with water in the rainy season. We travelled about nine miles in a northeast 

 direction, and then turned southward, over low hills. In about ten miles we struck a fine little 

 stream in a prairie, and encamped. The grass was excellent ; and wild onions were abundant 

 in the vicinity. 



July 10. — Ice, half an inch thick, formed last night. After travelling towards the east for 

 about five miles, we came to a shelf of black rock, fifty feet high, from which we had a fine view. 

 There seemed to be two breaks in the hills ; one towards the southeast, near a prominent conical 

 butte, and the other and lower one towards the northeast. Thinking our course to be interme- 

 diate between the two, I selected the latter. We soon reached a second shelf, higher than the 

 other ; and a short distance beyond crossed a small creek flowing through a prairie. Here we 

 struck a trail, which we followed up a mountain southwest of the pass, until it disappeared. 

 We continued our course to the summit. A large sheet of water, supposed to be Rhett lake, 

 lay about twenty miles distant, in a northeast direction. A level, timbered valley, bordered 

 by hills, extended to the shore. We continued our course, and in about seven miles encamped 

 near a water hole. We killed a bear and porcupine on the route, and had already deer, ante- 

 lopes, and mountain sheep in camp. 



