62 NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY PIT RIVER VALLEY. 



which thus remains at the bottom of the wound. It is said that these savages sometimes poison 

 their arrows by exposing a piece of liver to the repeated bites of a rattlesnake, and, after bury 

 ing it for a short time, smearing the point with the half decomposed mass. 



For about five miles to-day, the pedregal continued to be as rough as it was yesterday, and we 

 could advance only with great difficulty. At length, however, we entered a pine forest, and 

 soon after struck an Indian trail, which rendered travelling very much easier. It conducted us 

 to the bank of Canoe creek, which we found flowing through a fine, grassy meadow. Again 

 entering the forest, and continuing our course for a few miles further, we discovered a second 

 fine valley, carpeted with grass and clover. Near the northern side of it flowed a tributary of 

 Canoe creek, at least five times the size of the main stream. We encamped near the junction 

 of these creeks, with an abundant supply of wood,, water, and grass. 



August 3. Some little doubt had arisen whether the large tributary on which we were en 

 camped was not Pit river, and Lieut. Williamson determined to leave the main party in camp 

 to-day, and go himself, with the dragoons, to explore. He returned about noon, having fol 

 lowed down Canoe creek to where it discharged into Pit river. It flowed between precipitous 

 banks, with many cascades and rapids. At its mouth it was eighty or ninety feet in width. 

 It received no important tributary below our camp, except a branch from Lake Freaner, which 

 flowed into it over a trap dike about fifteen feet in height. 



In the afternoon, Lieut. Williamson sent one of the party to follow up the large tributary of 

 Canoe creek. On his return, the man reported that, about two miles above camp, the water 

 gushed furiously from some fifteen crevices in the rocks, thus forming brooks, which united and 

 formed the stream. He walked entirely round its sources, and returned dry shod on the bank 

 opposite the one on which he started. 



August 4. This morning the party separated. Lieut. Williamson started with the dra 

 goons, to explore the lower canon of Pit river, giving me directions to advance, with the main 

 party, to a point on the river near the mouth of Canoe creek. After leaving camp, we soon 

 found ourselves among thick pine timber and underbrush, which greatly delayed the cart, and 

 rendered it necessary to carry most of the instruments by hand. In some places the trail fol 

 lowed along the side of steep hills, and several men were constantly employed in preventing 

 the vehicle from overturning. At length, in attempting to run over a manzanita bush in one 

 of these places, it turned completely over ; so that the mule lay on his back, struggling violently 

 in the thick underbrush. After crossing one smaller branch, we finally succeeded in reaching 

 a fine, grassy meadow on the bank of Pit river, about two miles above the mouth of Canoe 

 creek. Here we encamped. 



Lieut. P. H. Sheridan, 4th infantry, overtook the party to-day, with orders to relieve 

 Lieut. Hood, who was instructed to return to the eastern States and join his regiment without 

 delay. 



The following extract from Lieut. Williamson s journal shows the result of his exploration 

 to-day. 



&quot;We followed nearly the same trail as yesterday for about five miles, and then took a trail 

 running east, which led to Stoneman s ridge. I went to the highest point, and obtained 

 bearings to Mount Shasta, Lassen s I3utte, and other peaks. I then ordered Bartee to follow 

 the ridge towards the south until he found a low depression, and then to endeavor to find a 

 good route from it to the river near Canoe creek. This he did. I next went to the entrance of 

 the canon. We found it impossible to go through it on foot, on account of the precipitous 



