68 NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY KLAMATII RIVER KLAMATH MARSH. 



August 19. This morning the trail, for three or four miles, wound along the rocky side of the 

 ridge which bordered the lake, and was, in consequence, very rough. Huge rocks, piled near 

 the water s edge, prevented the passage of &quot; the little cart &quot; by that route. The hill side was 

 sparsely covered with scattered pines, but near the lake shore springs were numerous, and the 

 growth of bushes was often dense. Bartee, the guide, shot three bald eagles with his rifle, as 

 we passed along the base of the crags upon which they were fearlessly resting. 



In riding under the projecting limb of a tree, Mr. Daniels was knocked from his mule and 

 quite severely injured. The country had recently been burnt over, and the want of grass 

 compelled Lieut. Williamson unwillingly to continue the march. The trail soon diverged from 

 the lake shore, and after passing over a dry plain entered an open pine forest. In a short time 

 we found ourselves on the banks of Klamath river, which was flowing through a fine, grassy 

 bottom, marked by a few clumps of willow bushes. Here we encamped. The river was about 

 150 feet in width, and apparently quite deep. There was a ford, however, a short distance 

 below. Every requisite for a good camp ground was found in abundance in the vicinity. 

 August 20. Mr. Daniels was much better this morning and able to ride his mule. 

 As had been usual of late, a dense fog obscured the view for two or three hours after starting. 

 Our course lay up the eastern side of the beautiful valley of Klamath river. The bottom was at 

 first open, covered with green grass, and bordered by low timbered hills. We passed several 

 clifis of basaltic breccia, from twenty to fifty feet in height, and occasionally ornamented with 

 rude, Indian paintings. The current of the stream was not very rapid, and there appeared to 

 be several fords. The trail crossed one large and fine tributary which flowed swiftly over a 

 rocky bed. After travelling twelve miles from camp, we reached the mouth of a caiion from which 

 the river emerged. The sides were of basaltic rock and pumice-stone, and very steep. Lieut. 

 Williamson estimated their height at 1,000 feet at the highest points. We followed the trail 

 over the ridge on the eastern side of the river, and several times looked down into the caiion. 

 Its course appeared to be straight in the main, but small bends were numerous. The ridge was 

 heavily timbered with pine. The forest was on fire, and an occasional heavy crash reverberating 

 for miles, warned us to beware of falling trees. The caiion was about four miles in length. A 

 short distance beyond its northern entrance, we emerged from the forest and entered a lovely 

 meadow, covered with clover and fine green grass. The ground was miry near the river, which 

 was deep and sluggish, and we encamped at the edge of the timber. The meadow appeared to 

 be an arm of Klamath marsh, and was evidently flooded at seasons of high water. 



August 21. This morning at daybreak, the fog was so dense that we could not see fifty yards 

 in advance, but the sun soon caused it to melt away. The trail led us over a thickly timbered 

 ridge which projected into the meadow. The soil was light pumice-stone dust, and fallen trees 

 rendered travelling somewhat difficult. At the northeastern base of the ridge we reached the 

 shore of Klamath marsh. This was a strip of half submerged land, about twelve miles long and 

 seven miles broad. It was covered by clumps of tule and other aquatic plants separated by small 

 sheets of water. Thousands of ducks, plover, and other water birds, made it their home. They 

 were so tame that they would hardly fly at the report of a gun, but it was useless to shoot them, 

 as the deep mud rendered it impossible to secure them afterwards. We surprised two Indians 

 on the shore, and endeavored to make them understand that we were friendly ; but they evidently 

 distrusted our professions, and escaped as soon as possible. 



Lieut. Williamson decided to follow the eastern shore of the marsh. We soon reached a 

 collection of Indian huts built near the edge of the water. Our two friends had evidently been 

 there before us, for the rancheria had been very recently deserted. Large quantities of food, 



