“the great central basin, believed to be filled wi 
lakes, deserts and oases, which have never been 
savage tribes which no traveler has seen or de: 
proposed to winter on the shores of the great “Mai 
on the banks of the “Buenaventura River,” repor 
mighty stream rising in the Rocky mountains, aie 
the Pacific ocean. Here, assuredly, sutita be found grass 
horses and game for the men. ‘e 
‘By the time Pyramid lake was reached, it inecaind evil n 
that Mary’s lake and Buenaventura river were alike nonexhist- a ea 
ent. It was then necessary to force a passage over the snow- 
heaped Sierra Nevada. By infinite labor and with great danger | 
this was accomplished, and the sources of the American river Re 
were reached. Descending this stream the starving men, lead- 
ing their starving horses, reached Sutter’s fort on the 6th of 
March, 1844. 
Fremont did not neglect the interests of botany, and had 
collected many plants during his long journey. But in the pas- 
sage of the Sierra the mule on which the specimens were packed 
fell over a precipice, and they were irretreviably lost. 
The party refitted at Fort Sutter, and leaving it on the 22d 
of March, traversed the San Joaquin valley, filled with delight 
at its flower-bedecked verdure. On the 13th of April the head 
of the valley was reached, and from this point I desire to follow 
with more detail the line of his march, so long as it continued 
in California. 
It has been thought that Fremont left the San Joaquin 
valley through Tejon Pass, but an examination of his map, in 
connection with his itinerary, makes it evident that he crossed 
through Tehachapi Pass. The summit was reached on the 13th, 
when, he says,,‘‘we were struck by the appearance of Yucca 
trees, which gave a strange and southern look to the country, 
and suited well with the dry and desert region we were ap- 
