NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY PIT RIVER VALLEY. 63 



sides which came down abruptly into the water. The north side was black rock, inclined 

 about 45. The south side was infusorial earth, inclined from the horizon 60 or more. Not 

 being able to follow the summit of the precipice, I returned down the river to camp, near the 

 mouth of Canoe creek. 



August 5. Lieut. Hood started this morning with a small escort, on his return to Fort Reading, 

 much to the regret of the whole party. Lieut. Williamson, with the dragoons, went to follow 

 the river bluff, directing me to take the train through the pass found yesterday by Bartee. 

 The trail led over several small, rocky hills, heavily timbered with pine. After passing along 

 the western foot of Stoneman s ridge for nearly two miles, we crossed it at a low point, and 

 followed down a gentle slope to the river. The soil was mostly light volcanic ashes, but the 

 trail was occasionally rocky. After riding a short distance near the stream, which was deep 

 and sluggish, we passed the spot where Fall river, after breaking in cascades and rapids over 

 a bluff about 30 feet in height, plunges into Pit river. About half a mile further on, we found 

 Lieut. Williamson encamped near a small brook, a tributary of Pit river. Its water was much 

 colder than that of the river, which had a marshy taste. Wood and grass abounded in the 

 vicinity. Lieut. Williamson had succeeded in following the river bluff. Where the stream 

 emerged from the mountains, and for about a mile above, he found the banks about 150 feet in 

 height, and very precipitous. The canon was so narrow at its mouth that he could not enter 

 it on foot. 



After reaching camp, I re-filled two barometers which had been broken. During the night 

 a mule was stolen by the Indians. 



August 6. This morning, to avoid a bend, Lieut. Williamson left the river and struck 

 across towards the upper canon. At first, the trail passed through pine timber, but it soon 

 entered a nearly level prairie, in some places rocky, and in others dusty. There were numerous 

 gopher holes in it, which were dug so near the surface that our animals often broke through 

 into them. After reaching the river again, the trail became quite rocky, and we were compelled 

 to cross numerous sloughs, as well as the main stream twice. At length we encamped near the 

 entrance of the upper canon. A fire soon broke out among the dry grass and bushes, which was 

 extinguished, with difficulty, by the united exertions of the whole command. Another barometer 

 was broken and re-filled to-day. At night the Indians stole a mule, but it was traced, found 

 tied in one of their rancherias, and recovered by our packers. 



August 7. To-day Lieut. Williamson followed along the northern edge of the canon, direct 

 ing me to take the route among the hills with the main party. On leaving camp, we crossed 

 the river at a shallow but very rocky ford, and immediately climbed the river bluff, which was 

 more than 100 feet in height, and so steep that it required twenty men to pull up the instru 

 ment cart. The chief obstacle to travel to-day was a vast amount of trap rock, which covered the 

 ground in many places. In others, the heat of the sun had baked the earth, and made it crack 

 in a manner which rendered travelling laborious. We saw but little timber on the road ; and 

 the hills were generally low, and not very steep. In passing over the rocks,, one spring and 

 the axle of the cart were broken. I succeeded in transporting it to camp, but there found it to 

 be irreparably injured. The body was abandoned, but the axle was mended sufficiently to hold 

 the wheels together, in order to continue the use of the odometer. 



Several Indians came into camp in the afternoon, and I saw one of them kindle a fire by 

 rubbing two pieces of wood together. A block of cedar, about six inches square and one inch 

 thick, perforated with a small hole, formed the lower piece. One Indian held this firmly on a 

 horizontal rock, after having placed a little tinder under the hole. A second took a round 



